

Politics At Sam and Anne's
Sky News
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.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jun 3, 2025 • 20min
Who's the public's favourite (and least favourite) cabinet member?
Sky News' Sam Coates and Politico's Anne McElvoy serve up their essential guide to the day in British politics.Exclusive polling is announced by Sam and Anne, as they reveal cabinet popularity rating according to the public.Also, why is the Home Office is today releasing a weather report for weather that's already been and gone? They say warm weather impacts the number of small boat crossings.Is this the Labour government laying the turf, readying the British public for a balmy summer, and with that, days of record Channel crossings?

Jun 2, 2025 • 22min
Starmer puts UK on war footing
Sky News' Sam Coates and Politico's Anne McElvoy serve up their essential guide to the day in British politics. This time last year, Labour and the Conservatives were in the throes of an era-defining election campaign that would end in Sir Keir Starmer winning an extraordinarily large majority. The Reform Party was little more than a buzzing bee amid the backdrop of the UK political landscape. Spin forward 12 months, and how much things have changed. June 2025 marks the start of a crucial month for Sir Keir’s Labour Party, with decisions due across a number of departments that will shape the course of this political era. In the coming weeks, we'll see a security strategy, a 10-year NHS strategy, an industrial strategy, and much more – all tied to next week's spending review. Today, it's the turn of military spending, as Defence Secretary John Healey reveals his 'first of a kind' Strategic Defence Review. But does it live up to the billing?

May 22, 2025 • 21min
"Chancellor Gordon Brown" Returns
Sky News’ Sam Coates and Politico’s Anne McElvoy serve up their essential guide to the day in British politics. As Sir Keir Starmer waves goodbye to the Chagos Islands and his planned cuts to the winter fuel allowance, Sam and Anne assess what it all means. How much “backseat driving” on the winter fuel U-turn has come from former chancellor Gordon Brown? And what’s the best way to implement a volte face? And what do the Gauke reforms, set to be accepted by Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood, mean for our stretched prison and probation services?

May 21, 2025 • 20min
Rayner tells Reeves she’s wrong
Sky News’ Sam Coates and Politico’s Anne McElvoy serve up their essential guide to the day in British politics. Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves will have their strategy tested today as Deputy PM Angela Rayner sets out her plan for higher taxes, and questions are raised about their approach to Reform. Is becoming Reform-lite the way to go? And, as the Prime Minister joins global efforts to put pressure on Israel over Gaza, could more sanctions be next?

May 20, 2025 • 22min
Kemi’s Tories drop to 4th
Sky News’ Sam Coates and Politico’s Anne McElvoy serve up their essential guide to the day in British politics. It'll be a day when the PM goes again at selling the merits of his EU deal. One former cabinet minister tells the podcast it's all 'concrete and waffle'. Welfare is on the agenda today too - with a DWP committee session on child welfare. And, did someone mention Nick Clegg? The former Deputy PM has used the c-word about the Lib Dems. Sam and Anne discuss coalition after another favorable poll for them - but it's a poll which really isn't good news for the Tories

May 19, 2025 • 20min
Does the great EU reset work?
Sky News’ Sam Coates and Politico’s Anne McElvoy serve up their essential guide to the day in British politics. It's EU summit day – so what will Keir Starmer agree? It’s been described as an historic summit and will be a reset of relations since Brexit. It’s expected that the EU and the UK will sign a security and defense partnership. But so far nothing is set in stone. Plus, how sincere are Vladamir Putin's interest in a ceasefire?

May 15, 2025 • 21min
Keir Starmer faces friendly fire
Sky News’ Sam Coates and Politico’s Anne McElvoy serve up their essential guide to the day in British politics. Today, Sir Keir Starmer heads to Albania to announce a crackdown on migrant smuggling gangs in the Balkans whilst internal political unrest continues to brew at home. Sam and Anne discuss the growing tension inside both the Labour and Conservative parties, and Sam reveals how the first cracks between the chancellor and the PM have started to form. What does this mean for an increasingly under pressure Starmer? Plus: Tory uncertainty deepens, leaving MPs wondering where Kemi Badenoch leadership is taking them.

May 14, 2025 • 20min
How fishy is Macron’s state visit?
Sky News’ Sam Coates and Politico’s Anne McEvoy serve up their essential guide to the day in British politics. It might be PMQs and there might be a big announcement about moving civil servants out of London but this episode also looks at the day in the backrooms of Westminster. There’s more to nail down ahead of Monday’s EU summit – the announcement of a state visit for the Macrons might be a clue on where talks on things like fisheries are at. So what else is going on to prepare for next week? Plus, what’s in this morning’s story about NHS reform?

May 13, 2025 • 21min
Nigel Farage’s migration mystery
Sky News’ Sam Coates and Politico's Anne McElvoy preview how the day will play out in British politics. After Labour’s migration plans were announced yesterday, Sam and Anne reflect on the Prime Minister’s rhetoric and its populist overtones. But how authentic is it? Also, the Tories launched their own deportation bill in parliament yesterday. What’s in it and is it all a bit of a stunt? And Sam’s reflecting on his interview with Nigel Farage, where he pressed the Reform leader on a loophole in the party’s manifesto which could allow an unknown amount of people to come into the country.

May 12, 2025 • 20min
Is this Keir Starmer’s biggest week as PM?
Sky News’ Sam Coates and Politico's Anne McElvoy preview how the day will play out in British politics. Today’s the day when Keir Starmer finally reveals his big shake-up of migration laws. Sam and Anne discuss the focus on low-skilled workers that’ll be big for the social care and university sectors, and how there’s a growing concern in government that the benefits of migration are being overstated. That’s how the PM wants to start the week, but his agenda might be overshadowed by international events. The Foreign Secretary will be part of today’s efforts to make sure Putin shows up to meet Zelenskyy in Istanbul on Thursday.