Politics At Sam and Anne's

With conference season in the rear-view mirror, Andy Burnham jets off to Germany for his first European trip as PM - but how much do Anglo-German relations matter right now? Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy look ahead to his meeting with German chancellor Friedrich Merz as the countries attempt to align ambitions and maybe find an avenue to rejoin the EU. Elsewhere, an MP gets in touch to ask whether t...

She promised a “battle for the soul of the nation” – but can Kemi Badenoch turn her vision for the Conservatives into an electoral revival? In a special debrief episode from the Tory conference in Birmingham, Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy unpack the big pledges in the leader’s speech – from abolishing inheritance tax on family homes to her deeply personal intervention on race, identity and her own m...

It’s Kemi Badenoch’s big day at Conservative conference - but it’s not just the adoring party faithful she has to impress. Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy look at how the leader’s speech will land with both voters and party donors – in what she’s calling a “battle for the soul of the country”. There are already signs the Tories’ finances are not in the shape they need to be to fight an election on two...

The ‘Burnham Bounce’ is extending Labour’s lead in the polls – so are the Conservatives anywhere near ready to challenge? Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy unpack the latest polling numbers and what they mean for Kemi Badenoch as the party struggle to define its offer on the economy, triple lock and social care. Back in London, Chancellor - John Healey - meets Britain’s biggest banks ahead of the Budget...

Is Andy Burnham an easier opponent for the Conservatives than Keir Starmer? At Tory conference in Birmingham, Kemi Badenoch’s team sniff a chance to attack the Prime Minister – with a particular chance to seize and attack his economic argument. Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy pore over Badenoch’s ‘The Right Way’ pamphlet and how she plans to take the fight to Reform in the north and the Liberal Democr...

As Labour attempt to reshape the political debate, can the Conservatives seize back the headlines? Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy are on the conference floor in Birmingham, asking whether Kemi Badenoch can carve out a distinct Tory agenda – or whether the party is still playing catch-up. From the pension triple lock to European Union membership, how can the Conservatives wrestle the narrative away fr...

Labour conference is over and the opposition parties are already on the attack – despite a ringing endorsement from Oasis’ Liam Gallagher. As the Conservatives head to Birmingham, Kemi Badenoch has branded the Prime Minister’s plans as “Corbynism with better packaging.” Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy ask whether the Tories are embracing a more aggressive style of politics – in stark contrast to Burnh...

A lot has been said about the prime minister’s first speech as leader to the Labour party conference. But what didn’t Andy Burnham say? Have the public understood the new PM’s big policy offer? And why was there nothing substantial on welfare reform? Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy examine the headline polling on the Burnham speech – wondering if the public back his triple lock ‘adjustment’ to fix soc...

An hour-long emotional address promising to “break the mould” of British politics – but will Britain buy Andy Burnham’s vision? In a special de-brief episode from Liverpool, Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy unpack the big pledges – from challenging the triple lock, creating a national care service to electoral reform and a new relationship with the EU. Has Burnham already set his sights on his politica...

It’s the new prime minister’s big day in Liverpool – but will he explain what Labour conference slogan “hope again” actually means? After a series of major speeches with little substance so far from his cabinet colleagues, Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy wonder whether Andy Burnham is saving all the juicy details for himself. Could there be some policy surprises – with the pensions triple lock seeming...

Labour conference enters day two under the shadow of a suspected terror plot at RAF Fairford and whether the Iranians were involved. As Donald Trump offers his account, Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy examine the conflicting version of events, the emerging security concerns around the Gloucestershire airbase and the political reaction. Meanwhile in Liverpool, the chancellor takes centre stage but why...

A conference of pure vibes? Or is there some substance behind the Andy Burnham’s slogan of “hope”? And how will that go down with his party? As the Labour party conference kicks off in Liverpool, Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy have a special Sunday look ahead to a critical week for Andy Burnham’s premiership... and they’ve got their hands on some of the Burnham merch that's already selling out. So ca...

Is the Burnham bounce starting to show? Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy dig into a mega poll – projecting Labour as the largest party at the next general election – but still 85 seats short of a Commons majority. What do these numbers mean for Andy Burnham, Kemi Badenoch and Nigel Farage? And how could a split on the right of British politics help Labour keep the keys to No10? Plus, has Tony Blair’s c...

Is Britain about to re-engage with the world in a more meaningful way than any time in the past decade? After a frantic 24 hours in New York, Andy Burnham declared to the UN: “Britain is back.” But what does that mean in practice? And after a rebuke over rhetoric on Russia from Donald Trump, is the new PM taking a different stance to Moscow from his predecessor? Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy unpack...

How on edge will Andy Burnham feel as he prepares to meet Donald Trump? Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy assess the risks as the two met get together for the first time – where could the US President take umbrage? Also – why has Andy Burnham agreed to help Saudi Arabia with “defensive military support” against the Houthis? Sam’s been speaking to Liberal Democrat leader – Sir Ed Davey – as their confere...

Can the Liberal Democrats withstand the political turbulence around them? As delegates gather in Brighton for their party conference, Sam Coates gauges the pressure on Sir Ed Davey’s party as it faces a squeeze from the Greens and the Andy Burnham bounce. Elsewhere, the Prime Minister prepares to go to New York for the UN General Assembly, the duo look ahead to his first meeting with Donald Trump...

What happens when the keys to No10 are handed back? Anne reports from a gathering of former Prime Minister’s - Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer - and reveals what life after power really looks like. Meanwhile, after some football diplomacy with Canadian PM – Mark Carney – could it offer a chance for Andy Burnham to unlock closer ties with the EU or has the reset hit another roadblock?

Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy look at how political communication has changed – from Keir Starmer’s government paying influencers to promote its message, to Andy Burnham putting himself front and centre of the social media operation. Sam has a scoop on how much it all costs. Elsewhere, former No10 chief of staff – Morgan McSweeney – has been speaking about his time in No10 and how he tried to launch...

As the TUC Congress continues in Brighton, some of Labour’s big beasts have been baring their teeth – with Angela Rayner using an after-dinner speech to land some blows on defence secretary Wes Streeting. Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy reveal what was said and whether it was all taken in good fun.... Meanwhile, the economic picture looks bleak as John Healey prepares for his first budget. Sam has a s...

Will a record breaking £72 million change the face of British politics? After receiving two of the biggest political donations in history - £36 million each from crypto billionaires Ben Delo and Christopher Harbone. Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy examine the political fallout - are the donations legal, will the government legislate to stop them and how does this vast sum of money influence British po...

Having spent the summer trying to ease the cost of living, is a new tourist tax about to hit domestic holiday makers in the pocket? The government is giving mayors additional powers to introduce a levy on hotel stays, with no cap on how much they can charge. With the tourism industry already angry, Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy examine the move and why the timing maybe a little uncomfortable for the...

There’s fallout to the UK’s move to announce sanctions on illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. Israel is closing the UK’s consulate in Jerusalem and considering other measures. Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy look at the reaction and wonder if the new PM should also be giving attention to other matters overseas. Elsewhere, Sam’s got a story about a big government growth initiative wh...

Britain is about to take its toughest stance yet against Israel – but will it make a difference, or will it leave the UK isolated on the international stage? Andy Burnham and Ed Miliband will unveil a package of sanctions targeting Israeli settlements in the West Bank, putting Britain at the forefront of the G7’s effort to pressure Benjamin Netanyahu’s government. Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy exami...

Can the chancellor deliver growth without breaking his own self-imposed fiscal rules? John Healey will set out his vision for the economy this morning, but with pressure mounting on the public finances, Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy ask whether he is preparing to flex the rules to make it happen. Amidst an increasingly turbulent economic backdrop, the duo examine the warning lights beginning to flas...

A launchpad for power – or a warning of problems to come for Reform UK? Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy debrief Reform UK’s biggest ever party conference and ask if the past few days have marked a turning point in Nigel Farage’s political career. The duo examine the fallout from the Channel 4 investigation involving two of Farage’s closest aides - and whether it raises fresh questions about the party’...