Politics At Sam and Anne's

Epizódok

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  Revealed: Andy Burnham’s Route to Victory 24.09.2026 19p

  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 call to rejoin the EU made things awkward for Andy Burnham ahead of Labour conference in Liverpool?
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  Has Burnham changed tack on Russia? 23.09.2026 18p

  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 the PM’s message on Ukraine, the US and the future of AI – and ask whether these themes will shape his first Labour conference speech as Prime Minister.
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  Burnham softens up Trump - but at what cost? 22.09.2026 21p

  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 conference wraps up in Brighton but why has AI, technology and social care become a major theme?And, why are Lib Dem candidates being told to ditch the suits for quarter zip tops?
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  How can leaders on the ropes bounce back? 21.09.2026 22p

  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 – can they find any common ground? Plus, Anne McElvoy - who's in Germany - reports on a disastrous set of regional elections for Friedrich Merz – but is he in a similar position to Keir Starmer post elections in May 2026?
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  What does a party of ex-PMs reveal? 17.09.2026 20p

  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?
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  Why ministers paid £2m to influencers 16.09.2026 20p

  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 21p

  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 21p

  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 19p

  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 20p

  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 19p

  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 21p

  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 27p

  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 22p

  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 21p

  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 21p

  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 34p

  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 29p

  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 23p

  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 28p

  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