Politics At Sam and Anne's

Ex-Conservative chairman and friend of Boris Johnson - Sir Jake Berry – is defecting to Reform UK, causing more problems for Kemi Badenoch.  On today’s episode, Sky News’ Sam Coates and Politico’s Anne McElvoy discuss if his defection will divide parts of Reform policy.  Elsewhere, the Anglo-French summit gets underway, as the Prime Minister hopes to announce a migration deal with the French President to deter small boat crossings.  Plus, chatter around Whitehall that No10 are considering a pre-summer reshuffle, but will it have any value?

After yesterday’s royal welcome from King Charles, President Macron will get down to business today, meeting the Prime Minister for lunch, after PMQs.  But, as Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy discuss on this episode, away from the pomp, Keir Starmer’s in-tray doesn’t look any less challenging.   It includes a headache for health secretary Wes Streeting as resident doctors, formerly known as junior doctors, announce a new strike as well as a punchy warning from the OBR on making promises to the public.  Also today. the Welfare Bill returns to the Commons – with reports of another rebellion brewing.  

The first European state visit since Brexit starts today – as President Macron arrives at Windsor Castle.   On this episode, Sky News' Sam Coates and Politico's Anne McElvoy look at what’s on the agenda beyond the pomp and ceremony. Will the government get its “one in, one out” migration deal over the line?  Plus, which one of our presenters needs to make a confession about the 2008 French state visit? 

Could Westminster be on for a quieter week?Sky News' Sam Coates and Politico's Anne McElvoy ponder that as the Prime Minister takes stock after the welfare rebellion - with some in the party telling Sam they're just focussing on getting to recess before a September reset.But the issue they can't shake off - will there be tax rises? With the Chancellor's black hole adding up to far more than £5.5bn - is there any other choice, In fact, could that black hole be more like £20bn?And which taxes would they be?

Sky News' Sam Coates and Politico's Anne McElvoy serve up their essential guide to the day in British politics.   After Chancellor Rachel Reeves was seen visibly sobbing in PMQs, the Prime Minister last night confirmed she would be Chancellor for a long time to come – but will that be enough to calm fears in the markets? And what do we think is really going on with the Chancellor? Sam and Anne discuss.   And what about Keir Starmer’s fate – are some in his own party questioning his longevity?  Also, the NHS 10-year plan includes the creation of 200 new neighbourhood health centres as well as improvements to the NHS app – but does it improve the fundamentals?  

The Prime Minister fended off losing a Commons vote on welfare changes but wakes up with a massive repair job to do within his party – and economically.  Sky News' Sam Coates and Politico's Anne McElvoy wonder what the consequences will be after those last-minute concessions to keep Labour MPs on side.   There’ll be new ways of balancing the finances (could they be filling a black hole by sending more?) but ALSO a post-mortem of how the government misjudged the mood of its own MPs.

Sky News' Sam Coates and Politico's Anne McElvoy serve up their essential guide to the day in British politics. Its judgement day for the government's welfare bill and it’s unclear from all sides whether the legislation will pass, despite billions of pounds worth of concessions from the Prime Minister to win over his backbench MPs. The bill could lead to Sir Keir Starmer’s largest rebellion so far, exactly one year on from the day that he came into power, leaving questions about his credibility and authority to govern.

Sky News' Sam Coates and Politico's Anne McElvoy serve up their essential guide to the day in British politics. The Prime Minister has made significant concessions on the welfare bill after the threat of a mass rebellion from his own MPs. The changes have left Chancellor Rachel Reeves with another black hole in the public finances and some MPs are still planning on voting against the bill when it comes in front of the House of Commons tomorrow. Also, as Sir Keir Starmer celebrates his first full year in power, has this latest U-turn left him in a vulnerable position with his party and the wider public? 

Sky News' Sam Coates and Politico's Anne McElvoy serve up their essential guide to the day in British politics. In a statement sent to Sam overnight, the government admits that concessions are on their way after an internal struggle over welfare reforms inside the Labour Party. It seems like meaningful talks are under way. Next Tuesday - the day of a supposed crunch vote on disability cuts that could have seen the government lose a vote - could now be just "the start". As Chancellor Rachel Reeves prepares to row back on savings, how much of the £5bn she wanted to save will she forgo? And why does this government always seem to be U-turning?

Sky News' Sam Coates and Politico's Anne McElvoy serve up their essential guide to the day in British politics.  Today, Labour is still reeling by a rebellion by 1 in 4 of its MPs over welfare cuts, how can Chancellor Rachel Reeves and PM Keir Starmer recover the numbers and avoid a political humiliation?  The government’s working majority is 165, so it only takes 83 Labour MPs to vote with a united opposition and this bill is dead, and along with it a lot of this government’s political and moral credibility.  And Sam been sent a draft of part of the latest NHS 10-year plan about alcohol treatment.