

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. Whatever they're talking about, Westminster will be talking about today.
Episodes
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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.

May 8, 2025 • 19min
Starmer wins Trump deal race
Sky News' Sam Coates and Politico's Anne McElvoy preview how the day will play out in British politics.Overnight, reports emerged of a UK-US trade announcement being hours away. Sam and Anne discuss the significance of this political win for Sir Keir Starmer "at a time he needs it most".The pair discuss what detail is expected to be in the pact and what it means for the 'special' relationship between the two countries.Plus, the Bank of England is expected to announce a cut in interest rates. Sam and Anne ask whether things are looking up for the prime minister?

May 7, 2025 • 23min
Starmer plan challenged by Red Wall MPs
Sky News’ Sam Coates and Politico’s Anne McElvoy preview how the day will play out in British politics. As the fallout continues to grow following the local elections, Keir Starmer faces a challenge to his plan for change from his own MPs – are things going to get worse for Labour, before they get better? And while Number 10 thought the India trade deal was going to be a good news story for them, Sam and Anne disagree on its value.