Politics At Sam and Anne's

After yesterday’s pomp and pageantry at Windsor, today the U.S. President gets down to business, meeting with Prime Minister - Keir Starmer - at Chequers.  Sam and Anne look at what’s on the agenda and what the leaders might be forced to talk about, ranging from the recognition of a Palestinian state to their nation's associations with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.  Away from the state visit, Sam also has some intel on government exercises and more on the dynamics between the PM and his chief of staff. 

Donald Trump is here and his day is all about time with the King before dinner at Windsor Castle this evening. Away from the carriages and flypasts (and without any mention of Jeffrey Epstein) - there’s other business for Sam and Anne.Sam picks up that Keir Starmer did consider effectively demoting Morgan McSweeney. On that, we’re back on the softened rules to remove a Labour PM with your messages on it. Also - has the government failed to get to grips with the law which underpins its ‘one in, one out’ scheme? 

Are some Labour skeletons about to come crashing out of the closet?  Keir Starmer needs state visit week to go perfectly but it’s already had a rocky start with the resignation of one of his most trusted aides.Paul Ovenden quit after ‘inappropriate’ messages he sent about Diane Abbott in 2017 resurfaced.  Sam and Anne ponder if there are more messages which are about to cause trouble for other senior Labour staffers.  Also - the first ‘one in, one out’ migrant flights were cancelled after legal challenges.And the week hasn’t started brightly for the Tories either – as they lose one of their biggest thinkers, Danny Kruger, to Reform. 

With less than 48 hours until U.S. President touches down on UK soil, preparations are ramping up to roll out the red carpet for Donald Trump. The duo look at what deals are on and maybe off the agenda for Keir Starmer and if the unprecedented second state visit can distract from the Prime Minister’s gloom at home.  Sam and Anne also discuss the mood around No10, the Labour party and MPs after two high profile dismissals within weeks of the PM’s ‘phase two’ of government.

The future of Lord Peter Mandelson – the UK's ambassador to the US - hangs in the balance as more allegations emerge surrounding his communications with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. With pressure mounting and an imminent state visit from US President Donald Trump, will the prime minister still back him?

Private concerns around the public finance black hole in Whitehall dominates the chatter, as the Chancellor aims to plug the £20-£40 billion gap ahead of the budget.  Sam and Anne discuss the situation and ask: What’s the tone on the issue? What happened in Keir Starmer’s first new-look cabinet meeting? What influence is the new environment secretary having? Elsewhere, the Prime Minister welcomes the Israeli President to Downing Street as tensions escalate in the Middle East, and we check in on the state of the Labour deputy leadership race.

With 48 hours until nominations close – the race to become the new deputy leader of the Labour party is well underway.  Sam and Anne discuss who are the runners and riders in the contest and where they will get their support from.  Away from party politics, Kemi Badenoch makes an offer to work with the government to cut the controversial Welfare bill.  Plus, the duo look at who’s coming out on top in the polls. 

After the Prime Minister’s reshuffle across the weekend, the new look government get to work on phase 2 of the Starmer project.  Sam and Anne discuss if a switch between Shabana Mahmood and Yvette Cooper - at the Home Office and the Foreign Office - will actually make a difference? Elsewhere, the NEC are expected to announce a timetable for the Labour party deputy leadership race, and the Assisted Dying Bill makes its first appearance in the House of Lords.

Sam and Anne had this down as the first of our conference specials – as Nigel Farage delivered his speech to Reform delegates in Birmingham.  They’re still debriefing on that on this episode but they can’t ignore one of the most significant days of Keir Starmer’s premiership so far and one of the biggest cabinet reshuffles in years.   Angela Rayner has gone. The cabinet has been overhauled with David Lammy now Deputy PM and Shabana Mahmood becoming Home Secretary.And, as you’d expect, Reform are using the Rayner saga to try to make capital – but was Farage polished enough in Birmingham? 

The government minister responsible for housing didn’t pay enough tax on her house. Sam and Anne let Angela Rayner’s admission sink in on this episode – aa they wonder how much government business is on hold as a result.  The independent ethics adviser Laurie Magnus’ view on how she took inaccurate legal advice could be public within days – presumably that means the cabinet reshuffle has to wait until the Deputy Prime Minister knows her fate.Never mind what else it might mean for the early days of Keir Starmer’s “phase two”.   But, whatever the outcome, is it safer for Starmer to keep Angela Rayner in a job?