Politics At Sam and Anne's

The date for the budget will be confirmed today – so Sam and Anne look at the options for Rachel Reeves’ diary with a backdrop of more market jitters.  They also go over the ways she could plug the hole in the public finances – estimated to be between £20-£50 billion –while still meeting her fiscal rules.  But why isn't the government saying more about the tricky decisions ahead?  There are more scraps from Monday’s government reshuffle – with a name of someone who apparently turned down a role.  As well as from the first PMQs after summer, Keir Starmer will meet with the leader of Spain, Pedro Sanches, at Downing Street and new Green leader Zack Polanski gets to work. 

After the Prime Minister’s mini reshuffle of backroom staff at Number 10 yesterday, will the optics behind the scenes work?  Sam and Anne discuss why the appointment of Darren Jones is significant to Phase 2 of the Starmer project – but will it there be trouble down the tracks?  Elsewhere, following a series of announcements on asylum and immigration policy, has the Home Secretary wrestled back the narrative on the issue? 

As MPs return to Westminster for a packed autumn term, will the Prime Minister be back with a bang?  Sky News’ Sam Coates and Politico’s Anne McElvoy discuss what are Keir Starmer’s priorities as the so called “reset week” begins.  There’s chatter around No10 of a staffing restructure but could this impact the government’s message and delivery of their missions?  Back in the Commons, the Home Secretary will lay out the government’s plans to restrict family members from joining asylum seekers.   

With MPs returning to parliament in a few days, Sam and Anne look ahead to a packed autumn schedule.In the last episode of the Summer Box Set, both spill the beans on the latest news and gossip around Westminster, Whitehall and beyond.They'll mark the important dates in the calendar, break down the fortunes of the key players, and explain which areas could cause trouble for the government.Normal service resumes on the podcast on 1 September.

More than 50,000 migrants have arrived on small boats across the English Channel since Labour came to power, but will Keir Starmer’s plan to smash the gangs and the ‘one in, one out' scheme solve the issue?    In this episode, Sam and Anne are joined by Danny Shaw, a former journalist and adviser to Yvette Cooper, to discuss the Home Office’s biggest priorities.  They discuss:   If more needs to be done to stop migrants crossing the Channel.   What policing reform could look like.   Whether there is a plan to lower violence against women and girls.   Sam and Anne’s weekday morning episodes return on 1st September.

Education, education, education' was how Tony Blair set out New Labour's priorities in the early noughties. A quarter of a century on, what story is Keir Starmer trying to tell about schools under his premiership?In this episode, Sam and Anne are joined by Laura McInerney, a former teacher and co-founder of Teacher Tapp, to break down the government's plan for education as we head into a new school year. They ask:•  What will be included in the education white paper?•  Can there be further devolution within the education system?•  Will Bridget Phillipson remain as the education secretary? Sam and Anne are getting a lie-in over summer recess, but they'll be in your feed with special episodes every Monday before normal services resumes on 1 September.

Joining the discussion is Alastair McLellan, the Editor-in-chief of the Health Service Journal, with two decades of expertise in healthcare. He unpacks the government's ambitious 10-year health plan aimed at revamping the NHS. The conversation highlights significant trends in health service funding, the transformative role of technology and AI, and the ongoing workforce crisis exacerbated by strikes. They also delve into the political maneuvering surrounding crucial policies like assisted dying and the broader implications for public health.

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 trio ask:• Is the UK living in Trumpland?• How will relationships abroad impact Britain's role in the world?• And does Starmer have the political strength to put pen-to-paper on some upcoming deals with the EU? Sam and Anne are getting a lie-in over summer recess, but they'll be in your feed with special episodes every Monday, before normal service resumes on 1 September.

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 nationalisation?  Plus, there is still some time to predict if Rachel Reeves will remain in Number 11 Downing Street, after a tumultuous year in office.  Sam and Anne are getting a lie-in over summer recess, but they’ll be in your feed with special episodes every Monday before normal services resumes on September 1st. 

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.