

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.
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
Mentioned books

Feb 4, 2025 • 18min
Is Keir Starmer Trump's new bestie?
Sky News' deputy political editor Sam Coates and Politico's Anne McElvoy look at the day ahead in British politics. Overnight, President Trump decided paused tariffs on Canada and Mexico but pressed ahead with imposing them on China. They've retaliated by putting imports on American gas, coal, oil and farming equipment. But will be the consequences for the UK? Sam and Anne discuss how the UK maps outs its position and asks if the UK could come out on top of this global shootout thanks to Brexit and if a limited US trade deal could be on the card within months. Meanwhile, could this be the start of a new era of three party politics as Reform come out on-top of YouGov poll for the first time.

Feb 3, 2025 • 19min
Starmer dodges tariffs... But for how long?
Sky News' deputy political editor Sam Coates and Politico's Anne McElvoy look at the day ahead in British politics. Donald Trump has been speaking about Keir Starmer and tariffs overnight - announcing the UK would stay tariff free 'for now', hours before our PM heads to Brussels to attend the first summit since Brexit. Sam and Anne discuss what's on the agenda at the EU summit including what the UK government actually want from Brussels post-Brexit and what the EU is actually prepared to give us.Meanwhile Bridget Phillipson will be making her first speech as education secretary ushering in a “new era on school standards” but will this quell criticism for No.10 or just cause more if it? You can send us a WhatsApp on 07511 867 633 or email us: jackandsam@sky.uk

Jan 30, 2025 • 21min
John Prescott and the pork pie
Sky News' deputy political editor Sam Coates and Politico's Dan Bloom look at the day ahead in British politics. The Labour party has descended on Hull for the funeral of John Prescott. Sky News' chief political correspondent Jon Craig had many a run-in with the former deputy prime minister and shares some of his best stories - including one involving a pork pie. Elsewhere, Sam and Dan look at the reaction to Rachel Reeves’ big economy speech and Sam bemoans government embargoes. You can send us a WhatsApp on 07511 867 633 or email us: jackandsam@sky.uk

Jan 29, 2025 • 20min
Is Rachel Reeves ignoring the North?
Sky News' deputy political editor Sam Coates and Politico's Anne McElvoy look at the day ahead in British politics. Today's the day for Rachel Reeves, as she aims to get the economy growing with a big speech this morning. There's the heavily trailed backing of a third runway at Heathrow, as well as the news this morning the government is breathing fresh life into another big project in the south of England - the Oxford-Cambridge growth corridor. How will it go down with her party around the country?And while the chancellor aims to put the boosters under the economy, the government is reeling from a damaging defeat to its own Rocket Man. Overnight, peers went against the government to give the creative industries greater protection from AI firms using their work to train models without pay. Labour's election mega supporter Sir Elton John was one of many stars to back the amendments to the government's bill. Is the government Alright For Fighting on this?You can send us a WhatsApp on 07511 867 633 or email us: jackandsam@sky.uk

Jan 28, 2025 • 20min
Questions over assisted dying
Sky News' deputy political editor Sam Coates and Politico's Anne McElvoy look at the day ahead in British politics. As Rachel Reeves puts the finishing touches to her big speech on boosting economic growth tomorrow, new pension rules mean 'trapped surplus funds' can be invested in the wider economy – something proposed by her predecessor Jeremy Hunt. Elsewhere, there is a backlash over a leaked internal Home Office report which has advised widening the definition of extremism to include environmentalists, the far left and men prejudiced against women. And how could the assisted dying law work? Sam and Anne preview the appearance of England's Chief Medical Officer Professor Sir Chris Whitty before MPs scrutinising the bill. You can send us a WhatsApp on 07511 867 633 or email us: jackandsam@sky.uk

Jan 27, 2025 • 19min
The week Starmer hands control to Reeves
Sky News' deputy political editor Sam Coates and Politico's Anne McElvoy look at the day ahead in British politics. The week beings on Holocaust Memorial Day, marking 80 years since the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau. For that reason, there are no big government announcements today, but Sam and Anne will take you through Westminster’s agenda for the week – a big one for Rachel Reeves. The future of the economy is likely to dominate again with the chancellor giving a speech on Wednesday. An announcement on a third runway at Heathrow is expected. Meanwhile, Donald Trump has been praising Sir Keir Starmer after a long chat and Sam and Anne breakdown just how important that is. You can send us a WhatsApp on 07511 867 633 or email us: jackandsam@sky.uk

Jan 23, 2025 • 21min
Starmer versus the blockers
Sky News' deputy political editor Sam Coates and Politico's Dan Bloom look at the day ahead in British politics. Today Sir Keir Starmer is on the NIMBY offensive to boost economic growth, with plans to reduce the number of times people can go to the courts to block infrastructure schemes. The government hopes it will mean projects like nuclear power stations, wind farms and railway lines can call get built quicker. But can they do it and will it work? Meanwhile with latest borrowing figures surprisingly high, Rachel Reeves is still under a lot of pressure to meet her fiscal rules. But Sam explains why welfare cuts won’t help her at the spring statement. The biggest news of the day though will of course be the sentencing of Axel Rudakubana for the Southport murders. With more details of his horrific crimes to be revealed then, Sam and Dan discuss the continuing political fallout. You can send us a WhatsApp on 07511 867 633 or email us: jackandsam@sky.uk

Jan 22, 2025 • 21min
The Rachel Reeves fightback
Sky News' deputy political editor Sam Coates and Politico's Anne McElvoy look at the day ahead in British politics. Anne is in Davos where Rachel Reeves is kickstarting her economic fightback. The chair of the Competition and Markets Authority has been moved on and there are big moves on AI, nature and unemployment. But will it all create the growth the chancellor is desperately seeking? Meanwhile, back in Westminster, how will Sir Keir Starmer fare in his first PMQs since Axel Rudakubana's guilty pleas over the Southport attack? You can send us a WhatsApp on 07511 867 633 or email us: jackandsam@sky.uk

Jan 21, 2025 • 23min
Starmer addresses Southport failings
Sky News' deputy political editor Sam Coates and Politico's Anne McElvoy have their guide to the day ahead in British politics.Anne is at the World Economic Forum in Davos, where powerful figures in finance convene. Sam and Anne unpick President Donald Trump's inauguration announcements of executive orders and their potential impact on UK trade and politics.And Sam and Anne discuss last year's Southport murders and the failures that fueled nationwide unrest. They break down Axel Rudakubana's guilty plea, the political fallout, and what it means for the government. You can send us a WhatsApp on 07511 867 633 or email us: jackandsam@sky.uk

Jan 20, 2025 • 18min
Trump upends everything
On the day of Donald Trump's second inauguration, Sky News' deputy political editor Sam Coates and Politico's Jack Blanchard have their guide to the day ahead in both British politics, and politics across the pond. So how is Trump 2.0 going to influence the UK? Can Sir Keir Starmer’s government work with President Trump?And with Peter Mandelson due to start as our ambassador to the US, Sam has the inside track on how he got the job. But will the MAGA crowd block his appointment?Meanwhile, what will the UK government slip out on the day when nobody is listening?You can send a WhatsApp to Jack and Sam on 07511 867 633 or email them: jackandsam@sky.uk


