Politics At Sam and Anne's

The Starmer drama continues as the PM is warned by the Scottish Labour leader to stay away ahead of a crucial set of local elections – so, how popular is Keir Starmer across the board?

Well, not very according to the first weekly check-in on the state of the polls in 2026 – as ‘Never Here Keir’ jets off to Paris for another Coalition of the Willing meeting.

Before that, it’s the first cabinet of the New Year – and Sam and Anne have e...

It's a new year but does Keir Starmer still have the same problems?

The Prime Minister is already under scrutiny, at home and abroad, to clarify his position on Donald Trump’s actions to strike and capture Venezuela’s President Maduro.

Can he ‘beige’ it out or will he bow down to the pressure from his opponents and critics?

Elsewhere, as MPs flock back to Westminster for 2026, is the PM premiership in a stronger or weaker position ...

Could the next 12 months mould a new type of British politics, or could it break the entire system?

Sam and Anne make their predictions and get into the political meat and potatoes of 2026, focusing on:

1. If all the party leaders will still be in post?
2. Could the local elections force a s...

As Parliament wraps up for 2025 – Sam and Anne reflect on a tumultuous year in British politics, looking at the highlights but mainly the lowlights.

The duo use their ‘glass half empty, glass half full’ approach to gauge if anyone can look forward to 2026 with pleasure or look back to 2025 in horror.

Politics at Sam and Anne’s will be back for a special look ahead episode to 2026 on Monday 29th Dece...

It might be the last full day of business before parliament wraps up for Christmas but there is plenty on the menu for Sam and Anne to tackle.

The duo look at: 

• The man to beat in the race to become the next UK ambassador to the United States 
• Britain looking set to rejoin the Erasmus student exchange programme but how much will it cost the taxpayer?&n...

As President Trump files a multi-billion dollar lawsuit against the BBC and reported friction on the recent U.S.-UK technology deal – what state is the ‘special relationship’ in?

Sam and Anne pore over the details, look if things can get back on track or whether the President is meddling too much in UK political affairs.

Also, we have some exclusive polling from Labour voters on who they would prefer as leader of the Labour party if ...

As the head of MI6 prepares to make her first public speech – is the UK facing a “new age of uncertainty?”

Sam and Anne discuss the priorities for Blaise Metreweli – identifying where the perceived threats are coming from and how Britain is being targeted.

Before he jets off to Berlin for more Russian-Ukraine peace talks, the Prime Minister will face the liaison committee as parliamen...

As UK-EU reconnection talks continue in Brussels and London, are more deals in the offing, what does it mean and when will the public see the difference?

Anne has been speaking to the Minister for European Relations, Nick Thomas-Symonds, to see if any progress has been made and whether Brits can avoid the queues at immigration over the festive period. 

Back in Westminster, with a week until the Christmas...

“Weak”, the words of President Trump to describe European leaders, but how will it go down here in the UK and across the continent?

Anne is in Brussels mopping up reaction from the “decaying" group of nations to that explosive interview from the President as re-connection talks between the UK and EU continues.

Elsewhere, Sam speaks to Kemi Badenoch about what success looks like f...

As Europe scrambles to respond to Donald Trump’s latest posturing on peace in Ukraine - with the head of the Royal Navy warning about Russia’s threat in the North Atlantic - how will Keir Starmer respond as he plots a course between the US and Europe?

Angela Rayner returns to the Commons with a loyal-but-lively defence of her watered-down Employment Rights Bill, but will Labour’s leadership jitters overshadow some rare good news for...

Some of the country’s biggest investment managers have sent a stark signal to Labour MPs. 

They worry that any attempt to oust Keir Starmer as PM could rattle the markets, weaken the pound and risk a Truss-style shock. As Labour Together, the group that campaigned for Starmer’s leadership, tests the waters for potential successors, Sam and Anne unpack what’s happening inside the party.

In Downing Street Starmer hosts a high stak...

How vulnerable is the British state from Russian attacks?

Sam and Anne discuss how the government will fund the additional defence spending and the rumblings of some unhappiness in the British deep state.

Away from defence, Sam hears of some tensions building between No10 and No11 over the handling of the budget as a formal leak inquiry is launched.

Plus, is the government machine grinding to a halt? ...

With reports that Nigel Farage expects to do a deal, or even merge, with the Conservatives before the next election – is it game over for the Tories or Reform? 

Sam and Anne discuss what this potential pact could mean for the right of British politics and whether the move will be seen as weakness from Mr Farage, in essence admitting&n...

It’s almost a decade since the referendum on leaving the EU – and it feels like Keir Starmer has turned up the dial on his Brexit rhetoric.

He said it would be “reckless” to use Brexit as a template for foreign policy.

Sam and Anne discuss what the PM had to say. 

Elsewhere, how good is the UK-US zero tariff-drugs deal really and how are voters feeling about Labour as the budget dust starts to settle...

The budget fallout continues but did the Prime Minister and the Chancellor exaggerate the size of the blackhole?

Sam and Anne question whether Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves misled cabinet and the country to justify the smorgasbord of tax rises as pressure mounts across the political divide. 

Elsewhere, has the reset talks with the European Union hit the buffers over defence?

Plus, the spot...

After all the drama can MPs, the markets, business and voters stomach Rachel Reeves’ budget? 

Sam and Anne look behind the headlines and dive deeper into items which were not noticed as much in the Chancellor’s budget, questioning whether it could be seen as a return to austerity. 

Plus, the duo also consider the practicalities of some of the new taxes an...

Has the chancellor done enough to save the government after weeks of official and unofficial briefings of the "most trailed budget in history"?

We knew Rachel Reeves was taking taxes to an all-time high before she was even on her feet in the Commons - thanks to the full budget being published by mistake on the Office for Budget Responsibility’s website - but what else was announced, and what didn't she say?

 Sam and Anne break d...

Mansion tax, gambling tax, milkshake tax, scrapping the two-child benefit cap – today we finally get all the details of the most trailed budget in political history. 

So, who is the 2025 Rachel Reeves budget for and why?

Sam and Anne assess how MPs and the markets will feel against voters and businesses. 

Politically, the giveaways look like they’re worth every penny –&...