Politics At Sam and Anne's

Donald Trump is here and his day is all about time with the King before dinner at Windsor Castle this evening. Away from the carriages and flypasts (and without any mention of Jeffrey Epstein) - there’s other business for Sam and Anne.Sam picks up that Keir Starmer did consider effectively demoting Morgan McSweeney. On that, we’re back on the softened rules to remove a Labour PM with your messages on it. Also - has the government failed to get to grips with the law which underpins its ‘one in, one out’ scheme? 

Are some Labour skeletons about to come crashing out of the closet?  Keir Starmer needs state visit week to go perfectly but it’s already had a rocky start with the resignation of one of his most trusted aides.Paul Ovenden quit after ‘inappropriate’ messages he sent about Diane Abbott in 2017 resurfaced.  Sam and Anne ponder if there are more messages which are about to cause trouble for other senior Labour staffers.  Also - the first ‘one in, one out’ migrant flights were cancelled after legal challenges.And the week hasn’t started brightly for the Tories either – as they lose one of their biggest thinkers, Danny Kruger, to Reform. 

With less than 48 hours until U.S. President touches down on UK soil, preparations are ramping up to roll out the red carpet for Donald Trump. The duo look at what deals are on and maybe off the agenda for Keir Starmer and if the unprecedented second state visit can distract from the Prime Minister’s gloom at home.  Sam and Anne also discuss the mood around No10, the Labour party and MPs after two high profile dismissals within weeks of the PM’s ‘phase two’ of government.

The future of Lord Peter Mandelson – the UK's ambassador to the US - hangs in the balance as more allegations emerge surrounding his communications with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. With pressure mounting and an imminent state visit from US President Donald Trump, will the prime minister still back him?

Private concerns around the public finance black hole in Whitehall dominates the chatter, as the Chancellor aims to plug the £20-£40 billion gap ahead of the budget.  Sam and Anne discuss the situation and ask: What’s the tone on the issue? What happened in Keir Starmer’s first new-look cabinet meeting? What influence is the new environment secretary having? Elsewhere, the Prime Minister welcomes the Israeli President to Downing Street as tensions escalate in the Middle East, and we check in on the state of the Labour deputy leadership race.

With 48 hours until nominations close – the race to become the new deputy leader of the Labour party is well underway.  Sam and Anne discuss who are the runners and riders in the contest and where they will get their support from.  Away from party politics, Kemi Badenoch makes an offer to work with the government to cut the controversial Welfare bill.  Plus, the duo look at who’s coming out on top in the polls. 

After the Prime Minister’s reshuffle across the weekend, the new look government get to work on phase 2 of the Starmer project.  Sam and Anne discuss if a switch between Shabana Mahmood and Yvette Cooper - at the Home Office and the Foreign Office - will actually make a difference? Elsewhere, the NEC are expected to announce a timetable for the Labour party deputy leadership race, and the Assisted Dying Bill makes its first appearance in the House of Lords.

Sam and Anne had this down as the first of our conference specials – as Nigel Farage delivered his speech to Reform delegates in Birmingham.  They’re still debriefing on that on this episode but they can’t ignore one of the most significant days of Keir Starmer’s premiership so far and one of the biggest cabinet reshuffles in years.   Angela Rayner has gone. The cabinet has been overhauled with David Lammy now Deputy PM and Shabana Mahmood becoming Home Secretary.And, as you’d expect, Reform are using the Rayner saga to try to make capital – but was Farage polished enough in Birmingham? 

The government minister responsible for housing didn’t pay enough tax on her house. Sam and Anne let Angela Rayner’s admission sink in on this episode – aa they wonder how much government business is on hold as a result.  The independent ethics adviser Laurie Magnus’ view on how she took inaccurate legal advice could be public within days – presumably that means the cabinet reshuffle has to wait until the Deputy Prime Minister knows her fate.Never mind what else it might mean for the early days of Keir Starmer’s “phase two”.   But, whatever the outcome, is it safer for Starmer to keep Angela Rayner in a job? 

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.

The government has a 10-year health plan it says can fix the NHS, but what does it look like in practical terms and when will the public see a difference? On this episode, Sam and Anne are joined by Alastair McLellan, the editor-in-chief of the Health Service Journal, to deep dive into the details.They ask:•  Where is health service funding going?•  What role will technology and AI play in delivering services?•  And are Keir Starmer and Wes Streeting facing an autumn of ongoing strikes? 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.

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.

The Government announces the “Reed Reforms” to fix Britain’s water system, but will it make a difference?  Sky News’ Sam Coates and Politico’s Anne McElvoy consider if customers' bills will go down and what practical changes will be made.  The Prime Minister meets with two world leaders later this week ahead of the parliamentary summer recess.  Plus, we hear about an unexpected visitor in the Coates household.