Politics At Sam and Anne's

Politics At Sam and Anne's

Sky News’ Sam Coates and Politico’s Anne McElvoy with what you need to know about the day ahead in British politics. All in under 20 minutes and in your feed around 7.30am. They're across the key interviews, the main stories and what the parties are saying.

Episodes

August 11, 2025 17 mins
The government has a 10-year health plan it says can fix the NHS, but what does it look like in practical terms and when will the public see a difference? 

On this episode, Sam and Anne are joined by Alastair McLellan, the editor-in-chief of the Health Service Journal, to deep dive into the details.

They ask:

•  Where is health service funding going?
•  What role will technology and AI play in delivering services?
•  And are Keir Starme...
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Sir Keir Starmer is a prime minister who is arguably more comfortable abroad – and has spent his first year in office putting Britain front and centre on the world stage. 

So, in this episode, Sam and Anne are joined by Politico's editor-in-chief, John Harris, to discuss the major international issues facing the government in the coming parliament.

With trade deals and ongoing conflicts across the globe dominating the agenda, the tri...
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It is arguably the number one issue facing the government – how do they get the economy thriving and growing again. 
 
Sam and Anne are joined by Sky News’ Economics and Data Editor, Ed Conway, to weigh up the options on the table for Rachel Reeves. 
 
Ahead of a crucial budget in the autumn, the trio address: 
 
How will the Chancellor fill the black hole in the public finances? 
Are tax changes on the horizon? 
Will there be more nationa...
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We couldn’t get to recess without a reshuffle after all. Standby for movements on the Conservative frontbench today. 
 
It sounds like Sir James Cleverly is on his way back to shadow cabinet. Sam and Anne discuss how Kemi Badenoch will feel about the optics of that return. 
 
Also, on the day MPs leave Westminster for summer, the Chancellor faces the Treasury Committee after an eventful couple of weeks. 
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The Government announces the “Reed Reforms” to fix Britain’s water system, but will it make a difference? 
 
Sky News’ Sam Coates and Politico’s Anne McElvoy consider if customers' bills will go down and what practical changes will be made. 
 
The Prime Minister meets with two world leaders later this week ahead of the parliamentary summer recess. 
 
Plus, we hear about an unexpected visitor in the Coates household. 
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The Prime Minister suspends four Labour MPs for “persistent breaches of discipline” as the fallout from the welfare reforms continues. 
 
Sky News’ Sam Coates and Politico’s Anne McElvoy discuss who they are, why now and what was the point, as the government attempts to restore order on the backbenches.  
 
Keir Starmer also welcomes German Chancellor – Friedrich Merz – to London, in the hope of signing a wide-ranging bilateral coopera...
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Now details of the enormous accidental data breach by a British soldier that put thousands of Afghans’ lives at risk can be discussed publicly – Sam and Anne try to address some of the biggest questions on this episode. 

They include: 
Why did the government break the glass on using a superinjunction? 
Has anyone been sacked? 
Why did the Labour government keep the superinjunction in place for so long? 
 
There’s still a bit of time to g...
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July 15, 2025 22 mins
With the Chancellor set to make a keynote speech to the City at Mansion House - are her fiscal rules as iron clad as we thought? 
 
Sky News’ Sam Coates and Politico’s Anne McElvoy explore what options are on the table for Rachel Reeves to fill the large black hole in the public finances. 
 
Across the pond, Donald Trump says he “likes” Keir Starmer, even though “he’s a liberal” - as he puts pressure on Vladimir Putin to sign a ceasefi...
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The Chancellor is back out on the road to start the government’s re-launch week, ahead of the parliamentary recess. 
 
In today’s episode, Sky News’ Sam Coates and Politico’s Anne McElvoy explain how comments on a proposed wealth tax by Rachel Reeves’ cabinet colleagues may have already put her in a tricky situation.  
 
Elsewhere, Buckingham Palace has confirmed that Windsor Castle will host U.S. President – Donald Trump – for a secon...
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Ex-Conservative chairman and friend of Boris Johnson - Sir Jake Berry – is defecting to Reform UK, causing more problems for Kemi Badenoch. 
 
On today’s episode, Sky News’ Sam Coates and Politico’s Anne McElvoy discuss if his defection will divide parts of Reform policy. 
 
Elsewhere, the Anglo-French summit gets underway, as the Prime Minister hopes to announce a migration deal with the French President to deter small boat crossings....
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After yesterday’s royal welcome from King Charles, President Macron will get down to business today, meeting the Prime Minister for lunch, after PMQs. 
 
But, as Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy discuss on this episode, away from the pomp, Keir Starmer’s in-tray doesn’t look any less challenging.  
 
It includes a headache for health secretary Wes Streeting as resident doctors, formerly known as junior doctors, announce a new strike as well...
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The first European state visit since Brexit starts today – as President Macron arrives at Windsor Castle.  
 
On this episode, Sky News' Sam Coates and Politico's Anne McElvoy look at what’s on the agenda beyond the pomp and ceremony. Will the government get its “one in, one out” migration deal over the line? 
 
Plus, which one of our presenters needs to make a confession about the 2008 French state visit? 
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July 7, 2025 19 mins
Could Westminster be on for a quieter week?

Sky News' Sam Coates and Politico's Anne McElvoy ponder that as the Prime Minister takes stock after the welfare rebellion - with some in the party telling Sam they're just focussing on getting to recess before a September reset.

But the issue they can't shake off - will there be tax rises? With the Chancellor's black hole adding up to far more than £5.5bn - is there any other choice, In fa...
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Sky News' Sam Coates and Politico's Anne McElvoy serve up their essential guide to the day in British politics.  
 
After Chancellor Rachel Reeves was seen visibly sobbing in PMQs, the Prime Minister last night confirmed she would be Chancellor for a long time to come – but will that be enough to calm fears in the markets? And what do we think is really going on with the Chancellor? Sam and Anne discuss.  
 
And what about Keir Starmer...
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The Prime Minister fended off losing a Commons vote on welfare changes but wakes up with a massive repair job to do within his party – and economically. 
 
Sky News' Sam Coates and Politico's Anne McElvoy wonder what the consequences will be after those last-minute concessions to keep Labour MPs on side. 
  
There’ll be new ways of balancing the finances (could they be filling a black hole by sending more?) but ALSO a post-mortem of ho...
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July 1, 2025 22 mins
Sky News' Sam Coates and Politico's Anne McElvoy serve up their essential guide to the day in British politics. 

Its judgement day for the government's welfare bill and it’s unclear from all sides whether the legislation will pass, despite billions of pounds worth of concessions from the Prime Minister to win over his backbench MPs. 

The bill could lead to Sir Keir Starmer’s largest rebellion so far, exactly one year on from the day ...
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June 30, 2025 21 mins
Sky News' Sam Coates and Politico's Anne McElvoy serve up their essential guide to the day in British politics. 

The Prime Minister has made significant concessions on the welfare bill after the threat of a mass rebellion from his own MPs. 

The changes have left Chancellor Rachel Reeves with another black hole in the public finances and some MPs are still planning on voting against the bill when it comes in front of the House of Comm...
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Sky News' Sam Coates and Politico's Anne McElvoy serve up their essential guide to the day in British politics.
 
In a statement sent to Sam overnight, the government admits that concessions are on their way after an internal struggle over welfare reforms inside the Labour Party.
 
It seems like meaningful talks are under way. Next Tuesday - the day of a supposed crunch vote on disability cuts that could have seen the government lose a...
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Sky News' Sam Coates and Politico's Anne McElvoy serve up their essential guide to the day in British politics. 
 
Today, Labour is still reeling by a rebellion by 1 in 4 of its MPs over welfare cuts, how can Chancellor Rachel Reeves and PM Keir Starmer recover the numbers and avoid a political humiliation? 
 
The government’s working majority is 165, so it only takes 83 Labour MPs to vote with a united opposition and this bill is dead...
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A NATO summit will be held in The Hague today, hours after Donald Trump announced Israel and Iran had agreed to a "complete and total" ceasefire. 

Meanwhile, on the domestic front, more than 100 Labour MPs have shown their hand and vowed to defeat Sir Keir Starmer's disability cuts.

On this episode, Sam and Anne discuss what to expect from the NATO summit where defence spending will be top of the agenda - and while the prime minister...
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