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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.
Whatever they're talking about, Westminster will be talking about today.
They're across the key interviews, the main stories and what the parties are saying.
Whatever they're talking about, Westminster will be talking about today.
324 Episodes
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Donald Trump finally descends on Davos despite a delayed flight – and is set to dominate the day at the annual get-together of the global elite.Sam and Anne reflect on his mega press conference prior to his departure – where he criticised Keir Starmer on the Chagos deal once again – and ask whether the PM will be missed in the Swiss Alps.Anne has the latest on the ground, gathering intel from across the economic and political spectrum on Trump’s antics and the British position as well as the insane cost of a carafe of warm white wine.The duo also consider if there’s division or unity on a response to potential tariffs over Greenland.Plus, on the domestic front is yet another red-on-red battle about to commence?
Sam and Anne started this episode wonder if Starmer and Trump relations were showing signs of being back on track.And as they were recording – the latest Trump Truth Social post calls the UK Chagos Islands deal “an act of GREAT STUPIDITY”.A move that’ll dominate the day – Sam explains how it’ll land in Westminster and Anne explains what people will be saying at Davos. There’s also more u-turn talk after ministers confirm a consultation on banning social media for under-16s and Sam hears of possible changes to the plan to scale back jury trials.
After a weekend tariff assault by President Trump on the UK and Europe – triggered by the fallout from the U.S. ambition to buy Greenland – the Prime Minister rips up the agenda to hold an emergency news conference in Downing Street.Sam in London and Anne in Davos to go through what options Sir Keir Starmer has on the table and assess whether the PM should retaliate or find a diplomatic way through the choppy waters?Back in the Commons, Sam has the latest on the row over the Hillsborough law as the government pulls the legislation amid a battle with campaigners over how “watered down” the bill would be.Plus, what’s in-store on the defection front this week after a late night move by Andrew Rossindell to Reform from the Tories?
Is the theme of anger and unhappiness dominating British politics and what, if anything, is the Prime Minister doing to quell the mood amongst his party and the public?Sam has details of misery and irritation within the Labour ranks over plans to overhaul parts of the jury system to cut the courts backlog – but is another u-turn or rebellion on the horizon?Elsewhere, will the assisted dying bill make it over the line before the Kings speech in May? Is a former British Prime Minister about to be handed a senior role to oversee the governance of Gaza? And, we get reaction from the shadow chancellor to the state of the UK's economy.
Another day and another u-turn – what does the climbdown on digital ID say about the credibility and authority of the Prime Minister?Sam and Anne also get you up to speed on another government idea that you’ll have heard a lot about before – rail investment in the north of England. Can links between big cities ever be improved? And why is the Chancellor trying to whip up excitement like it’s not been mentioned before?
A row is brewing between the government, Labour backbenchers and the security services over the Hillsborough law. Sam has the intel on why MPs want it to go even further, leaving No10 in a tricky position.After several policy U-turns and potentially more on the horizon – is the Prime Minister still in the driving seat and to what extent?Plus, as Reform UK claims its most high-profile scalp so far in Nadhim Zahawi, why are the polls heading in the wrong direction and could the party be accused of being the “same team, new badge” equivalent of Boris Johnson’s Conservatives?
As global instability continues to dominate the Prime Minister’s agenda, is the threat to his premiership receding?After a rollercoaster week of foreign events, and now the possibility of the collapse of the Iranian regime, Sam and Anne asses the perception of his actions on the home and domestic fronts.Link to foreign affairs, Anne has some intel on defence spending and how the funding doesn’t match the UK’s intention to be involved in military operations across the globe.Elsewhere, is the government about to ban X following a fallout from the usage of Grok AI to produce sexually explicit images?Plus, what do Kemi Badenoch and Andy Burnham have in common in the social media sphere?
Today, Sam and Anne ask the question, is the Prime Minister’s focus abroad distracting from his own problems and domestic reforms at home?With a plethora of contentious legislation to get through ahead of the spring statement in March and the Kings speech in May - the duo forecast whether there could be more rebellions down the line. The pair home in on the complicated problems facing Bridget Phillipson - how she deals with SEND reforms and the use of single sex spaces. Will the government take on parents over statementing kids, how will it be funded and is the EHRC acting in bad faith?
Three things from Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy to start your political day.What the government is having to deal with – the unpredictability of Donald Trump.Just as Britain signs up to troops in Ukraine if there’s a peace deal, it’s having to use its best diplomatic language on what the President’s thinking about Greenland.What the government wants to deal with – publishing the road safety strategy which is something every driver will have a view on.What some government sources are thinking – Sam’s got a story about whether AI is to blame for a massive rise in the number of Written Questions in the Commons.You can vote for Politics at Sam and Anne’s in the people’s choice category at the Political Podcast Awards here - https://politicalpodcastawards.co.uk/the-peoples-choice-award/
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 exclusive news on a potential revolt over business rates, as well as threats to industry to lobby less aggressively if it wants a u-turn.
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 since the Christmas break? - Sam has all the behind-the-scenes reaction. Plus, is deeper integration with the European Union on the cards? You can vote for Politics at Sam and Anne’s in the people’s choice category at the Political Podcast Awards here - https://politicalpodcastawards.co.uk/the-peoples-choice-award/
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:If all the party leaders will still be in post?Could the local elections force a seismic change in UK politics?Does Britain still have a role in Europe and around the globe?Politics at Sam and Anne’s returns for daily service on Monday 5 January.
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 December, with normal daily service resuming on Monday 5th January.
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? Gossip and fallout from the Angela Rayner polling about how she’s perceived with Labour voters
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 it wasn’t Keir Starmer. Plus, Anne has an update on the talks held in Germany over a possible peace plan for Ukraine.
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 parliament begins to wind down for the year.Plus, Rishi Sunak makes another appearance at the Covid Inquiry.
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 break there’s plenty of business for the government to get through but it’s not all plain sailing.
“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 for the Conservatives at the next set of local election – clue it may not be winning.Plus, has the ghost of Andy Burnham returned to haunt Keir Starmer with a leadership challenge?
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 Rachel Reeves?Plus, the government rolls out its Union Jack-branded Great British Railways reboot.
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 stake gathering with Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Emmanuel Macron and Friedrich Merz, as Donald Trump publicly pressures Ukraine to accept his peace terms. Sam and Anne look at what could be unfolding behind closed doors.Plus, in Clacton, Nigel Farage has been reported to police over his electoral expenditure. Reform UK denies the claims.
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