Politics At Sam and Anne's

Épisodes

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  Why ministers paid £2m to influencers 16.09.2026 20min

  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 a thinktank in Downing Street to develop policy. Plus, with energy bills forecasted to rocked up near £450 in January, how worried are the government and what can they do to help families?
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  Rayner v Streeting round 2 15.09.2026 21min

  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 scoop on how one economic forecast could make or break his spending plans.And Reform remains ‘100% confident’ two of the biggest donations in British political history were legal. But will that position shift as ministers face growing questions over how a proposed retrospective change in the law would work in practice?
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  Why Reform’s donation will change British politics 14.09.2026 21min

  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 politics?Elsewhere at the TUC conference in Brighton, the unions are ramping up the pressure on the government to deliver more for workers.Plus, could former Prime Minister – Liz Truss – really be plotting a return to frontline politics?
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  Why Burnham is making holidays more expensive 10.09.2026 19min

  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 government.Elsewhere, Sky News has uncovered more turmoil in Reform-run local councils. With the Metropolitan Police also widening their investigation into allegations of illegal foreign donations, how much trouble is Reform and leader Nigel Farage really in?Plus, the Assisted Dying Bill returns to parliament tomorrow – can it clear its first major hurdle for a second time? And Anne assesses the international fallout from the UK’s action over Israel.You can watch Cathy Newman’s full investigation into Durham's Reform-led Council here.
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  Is Andy Burnham talking about the right stuff? 09.09.2026 20min

  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 which, so far, hasn’t done much.And, is the bleak economic picture making John Healey’s budget harder by the day?
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  Inside Burnham’s big Israel gamble 08.09.2026 19min

  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 examine what the move means in practice - and why the government has chosen to act now.But with tensions rising, will the move impact the UK’s relationship with the United States and Israel?Plus, after a turbulent conference, have Reform UK seen a bounce in the polls and could it give an early indication for the direction of travel for the Holborn and St Pancras by-election?
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  Is Healey really a risk taker? 07.09.2026 21min

  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 flash – from the rising cost of borrowing to the instability of mortgage rates – and what it could mean for households and the government’s room for manoeuvrePlus, as the AfD romp to victory in the German state election, Anne gives her take on where it all goes next.
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  Farage falters: Sam and Anne's verdict 06.09.2026 27min

  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’s readiness for power.Behind the headlines, Sam and Anne also discuss the increasingly visible battle between Robert Jenrick and Zia Yusuf for the soul of Reform.Has Reform already peaked in its quest for power – or is Nigel Farage still on course to occupy No10?Reform’s Robert Jenrick spoke to Sky News about the Channel 4 claims on Saturday.
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  Can "ratty" Farage get his mojo back? 03.09.2026 22min

  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 – while a French connection could be significant.Elsewhere, the Conservatives are ramping up the pressure on Andy Burnham over defence spending, unveiling their own plan on how they would cut welfare to fund more money for the military.Plus, ahead of Sunday’s state elections in Germany, Anne reports from the campaign trail on the rise of the far-right AfD party and her dramatic encounter at a rally in Lützen.Sam and Anne will return on Sunday afternoon for a special de-brief episode to reflect on the Reform party conference.
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  Is Burnham living in a economic dreamland? 02.09.2026 21min

  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 manoeuvre ahead of October’s budget?The duo also look ahead to the looming Holborn and St Pancras by-election and whether the Green Party leader – Zac Polanski – will consider standing?Plus, as Emmanuel Macron arrives in Britain, why are the French taking such a keen interest in the new PM.
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  Burnham enters the political bearpit 01.09.2026 21min

  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’s ambitious promises and the tough reality facing the government.And the duo look at how Kemi Badenoch plans to puncture the Burnham bounce with her shadow cabinet reshuffle.
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  Sam and Anne's guide to the term ahead 24.08.2026 34min

  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 term ahead.With party conferences and a key budget on the horizon, can Burnham's government deliver on the change it has promised?
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  What will Burnham do on defence? 18.08.2026 29min

  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 whether Burnham will approach Trump differently to Starmer and what the possible blowback from providing Ukraine with weapons to strike Russia could be.
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  What will Burnham do on AI? 10.08.2026 23min

  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 focusing on using AI to revive manufacturing? Can the UK compete with the US and China? And where will the government land on the biggest political battles ahead, from copyright and data centres to the future of work?Listen to the full episode of Jimmy’s Job’s of the Future podcast with Andy Burnham here.
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  What will Burnham do with the Budget? 03.08.2026 28min

  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 living? What do the bond markets make of Mr Burnham? And how much control does any chancellor really have when conflict in the Middle East and global events are shaping so much of Britain's economy?Try Ed Conway's Stuff Matters podcast here
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  Burnham’s Blitz: Sam and Anne’s verdict 30.07.2026 22min

  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 of the crucial September vote. Plus, new polling from POLITICO shows again the ‘Burnham bounce’ as his approval rating goes up in every demographic, except one – Reform voters. What will this mean in the long term? And, before Sam and Anne take some time off over summer, what do they make of Burnham’s first two weeks?
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  Who is Ed Miliband really listening to? 29.07.2026 19min

  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 out on Tuesday, and neither Kemi Badenoch nor Ed Davey will be in the room. The Conservative leader is sending the shadow health secretary in her place, while Davey will join by Zoom. Nigel Farage and the Green Party's Zack Polanski weren't invited.Sam and Anne dig into what, if anything, today's meeting could achieve.
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  When Sam met Andy 28.07.2026 21min

  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 with Andy Burnham and how his positivity and communication skills are a clear change from some of his predecessors. The duo also discuss the latest policy announcement from No.10. This time, a radical shift in the education system that will allow teenagers to take technical subjects alongside academic ones. But how will this actually work in practice?
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  What will Burnham really change? 27.07.2026 19min

  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 discuss Burnham's foreign policy as he prepares to welcome Volodymyr Zelenskyy later today at a British naval base.
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  Does Burnham need to watch what he says? 23.07.2026 21min

  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 the new PM’s comments on a potential review of early prison release in England and Wales. Also, the Foreign Office has withdrawn its remaining UK staff from Iran as Donald Trump ramps up pressure on Tehran. Sam and Anne talk about what this could mean for the new Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband.