Politics At Sam and Anne's

Sky News' Sam Coates and Politico's Anne McElvoy present their guide to the day ahead in British politics.    With two days to go until the Spring Statement, Chancellor Rachel Reeves has been fighting off talk that she is taking Britain back to austerity.   Over the weekend she confirmed plans to cut Civil Service running costs by 15% and her statement is expected to unveil further savings.Reeves could also be on course to break the foundational promise of her Chancellorship - her own fiscal rules. What corrective action is she expected to take? And what else can we expect to hear from the Chancellor on Wednesday?  

Sky News' Sam Coates and Politico's Anne McElvoy present their guide to the day ahead in British politics.  As Kemi Badenoch launches her local election campaign, is Nigel Farage right, would a stint on I’m A Celebrity help the Tories' chances?And, why Keir Starmer is continuing to market himself as the securocrat PM.

Sky News' Sam Coates and Politico's Anne McElvoy present their guide to the day ahead in British politics.  Keir Starmer’s team spend the day trying to work out how the Trump-Putin phone call really went down. Could the UK end up sending more military support to Ukraine before any pause in fighting? The idea of an ice hockey game apparently came up on the call – Anne has an important history lesson on that. Around Westminster, it’s PMQs but the Labour charm offensive to convince its backbenchers of its welfare reforms goes on.

Sky News' Sam Coates and Politico's Anne McElvoy present their guide to the day ahead in British politics.  It’s a big day for more than one reason. We know the details of the government’s welfare reforms will finally come this afternoon. Before that, this morning, Kemi Badenoch will say the UK’s target of hitting net zero by 2050 is ‘impossible’. How will Labour make their arguments in response – and will that be a new test for the Keir Starmer-Ed Miliband dynamic? On welfare, Sam and Anne go through the new details we’ll hear today. And it sounds like changes to PIP payments will need legislation. 

Sky News' deputy political editor Sam Coates and Politico's Anne McElvoy have their guide to the day ahead in British politics.With Chancellor Rachel Reeves's spring statement fast approaching, Labour faces a major challenge from its own backbenchers ahead of an announcement to restrict some sickness and disability benefits. Sam and Anne discuss the stakes for Sir Keir Starmer and the plausibility of a party rebellion.Plus, it's classroom war over schools and academies, as Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson comes under pressure over her plans to shake up curriculums. But why is the schools bill causing such a stir?

Sky News' deputy political editor Sam Coates and Politico's Anne McElvoy have their guide to the day ahead in British politics.    It’s crunch time for Keir Starmer’s government. With rumours of a cabinet reshuffle rife - when might it take place? And who’s on the chopping block?  This at a time when a rebellion over planned cuts to the welfare budget is brewing.  Sam and Anne also explain how the subject of civil service reform is in fact very interesting – Keir Starmer will want to take note. Today he’ll apparently be announcing changes to defence spending, AI, and radical reform of the state.  WhatsApp on 07511 867 633 or email us: jackandsam@sky.uk   

Sky News' deputy political editor Sam Coates and Politico's Anne McElvoy have their guide to the day ahead in British politics.    Tariffs are back on the agenda for this morning’s episode – the US has put them on all steel and aluminium imports, including those from the UK.  How do ministers respond now? Does it go any further than the stiffly worded statement from business secretary Jonathan Reynolds?  And as the US and Ukraine await Russia’s response to the proposal for a 30 day ceasefire, what is the role of the Starmer government at the moment – and what are the negotiating tactics at play?    WhatsApp on 07511 867 633 or email us: jackandsam@sky.uk   

Sky News' deputy political editor Sam Coates and Politico's Anne McElvoy have their guide to the day ahead in British politics.    Bats, pylons, and planning reforms - how far is Keir Starmer willing to go to achieve the growth and infrastructure he’s promised, and will Labour’s new reforms help the UK get there? And what has the fallout been after Mike Amesbury announced his resignation, triggering a by election in Runcorn?  And over in Riyadh, ahead of peace talks over the war in Ukraine, how significant a role has Keir Starmer’s National Security advisor Jonathan Powell been playing?  WhatsApp on 07511 867 633 or email us: jackandsam@sky.uk

Sky News' deputy political editor Sam Coates and Politico's Anne McElvoy have their guide to the day ahead in British politics.    With Zelensky heading to Saudi Arabia to join US sponsored peace talks in Saudi Arabia, Sam and Anne assess the UK’s response to any concessions Ukraine might be made to make to Russia.  And with Mark Carney waiting in the wings to take over from Prime Minister Trudeau in Canada, how will his premiership differ and how will he respond to Trump’s threat of tariffs?  Domestically, Labour’s wish for economic growth is well known, but do their planning reforms go far enough to get it? And speaking of Reform - as their internal rows rumble on, Anne and Sam discuss what the latest intervention from an unnamed KC means for the party.  WhatsApp on 07511 867 633 or email us: jackandsam@sky.uk   

Sky News' deputy political editor Sam Coates and Politico's Anne McElvoy have their guide to the day ahead in British politics.   As Matt Wrack, a former hard-left firefighter is endorsed as the the next leader of one of the two main teaching unions Sam and Anne discuss the fall out for the government. Mr Wrack who is the preferred candidate for the NASWT is a former general secretary of the fire brigade's union, but he has no professional educational background.   They also discuss the ongoing conversations about defence spending and how Europe will protect itself as both Rachel Reeves and Sir Keir Starmer spend their day on defence visits.   Plus are there plans to remove President Zelensky from office?  Anne has been speaking to members of the Ukrainian government.  WhatsApp on 07511 867 633 or email us: jackandsam@sky.uk