Politics At Sam and Anne's

A bullish home secretary came out swinging after critics claimed a climbdown over her controversial immigration reforms. What remains from Shabana Mahmood’s original plan? And is the rest of the cabinet – including Angela Rayner – really behind her? Sam Coates – who's been speaking to the home secretary – and Anne McElvoy examine the details and question whether she’s done enough to quash the internal arguments within Labour.

Are domestic political battles about to collide with a diplomatic storm for the Prime Minister? As Andy Burnham jets off to the Caribbean, Home Secretary – Shabana Mahmood – prepares to unveil one of the most contentious policies of his premiership: a major crackdown on legal migration. But, a year after the plans were first proposed, Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy look at whether Labour have quashed the internal rebellion and how much influence Angela Rayner has had on the PM’s position. Plus, as the Commonwealth Summit gets underway in Antigua, is the Prime Minister facing a series of challenges on the international front – from potential reparations for slavery to US-China influence on the region.

So was that it? Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy have slept on it – and are feeling the budget may have landed with a whimper rather than a bang. They weigh up the case for the defence: has John Healey played it safe to reassure the markets, keep Labour onside and give households some immediate relief on energy bills? Or has he ducked the big decisions, leaving families facing a cost-of-living squeeze and businesses distinctly underwhelmed? Plus, it’s not just Sam and Anne’s reaction. Friends of the podcast have been sending their messages as they mull it over too. And if you missed it, our full 30-minute Budget debrief with Sky News’ Economics and Data editor Ed Conway is already in your feeds, offering a deeper dive on John Healey’s statement.

A breathing space budget or a look into a new bleak economic reality? Chancellor – John Healey - delivered a no thrills budget but with grim warnings on the economic dashboard from the Office for Budget Responsibility can he deliver the “breathing space” he wants to give people? With growth downgraded, borrowing set to rise and taxes heading for a post war high did he deliver any hope or has he simply pushed the problem down the road. Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy are joined by Sky News’ Economics and Data Editor – Ed Conway – to go over the big decisions, examine what the numbers mean for households and ask if Labour still has “fresh hope for the future.” Want to ask Sam and Anne a question – email them at samandanne@sky.uk

It’s budget day and it’s a critical moment for Chancellor and the UK economy. So, what are the plans to ease the squeeze on household bills and the cost-of-living crisis? Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy unpack the high-stakes decisions facing the government and how John Healey plans to raise billions in additional revenue through increasing tax. With tough choices delayed, fiscal headroom shrinking and Whitehall budgets stretched to breaking point, will this budget fix Britain’s problems or simply kick them down the road? And, will this budget reveal who really runs the government - No 11, No 10 or the markets?

It’s budget eve but can the Chancellor really deliver a ‘breathing space’ budget? With living standards under pressure, Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy explore the trade-offs John Healey must balance between the cost-of-living crisis, the government’s plan for growth and whether ministers can convince voters that they’re easing the pressure. Plus, Sam heads to Doncaster-Sheffield Airport where a bold bet on devolution could deliver where the private sector failed.

At its core will this be a John Healey or Andy Burnham budget – and will it deliver any real breathing space? With the biggest fiscal event of the year looming, Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy examine some of the cabinet divisions across a range of topics including oil drilling, migration policy and a new relationship with Europe. Plus, is the Prime Minister reopening Labour’s battle over Europe and free movement? Where are the red lines for the party, Andy Burnham and the country?

Can the government find more cuts across Whitehall to fund its NATO defence commitments? With less than a week to the budget, Treasury minister – Emma Reynolds – says squeezing more efficiency out of SW1 could free up cash for defence. But with public services already under pressure, where can the cuts be made without making things worse? Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy crunch the numbers, look at which sectors are already flashing the warning signs and which policies the Prime Minister could scrap to score a political win. Elsewhere, is Education Secretary – Lucy Powell – planning on making shifts in the department after a luke warm response to keeping Sir Martyn Oliver as the chief inspector of OFSTED?

The Jackdaw gas field has been approved by the government. Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh says the decision will support the country’s energy security and that it is compatible with legally binding climate commitments. Critics say the move breaks the spirit of the 2024 Labour manifesto – and makes Andy Burnham look likes he’s living in a “parallel universe” after the hottest summer on record. Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy discuss how he goes about squaring the circle of gas drilling with potential budget cuts to green projects?

John Healey’s first budget is shrouded in secrecy so how come we know he won’t be touching capital gains tax? Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy ponder whether the Treasury is worried about growth and discuss how Kemi Badenoch is trying to get the Conservatives on an economic front foot. Plus, they pull apart the weekly polling numbers, and Sam’s got a story about the wait times for parents of SEND children.

Having more than a million young people not in education, employment or training is an “economic catastrophe” according to the prime minister. So, what will the government do about it? With Alan Milburn’s long-awaited review due next month, is Andy Burnham laying the groundwork for tougher benefit conditions in the budget – as ministers look to rein in the spiralling welfare bill? Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy examine how the report’s findings could complicate the government’s plans for reform. Plus, Anne has the latest on the protests in France and a stark warning over the political cost of attempting to shrink the size of the state.

Is Reform facing another growing crisis over alleged racist, sexist and violent language within its ranks? Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy assess what the latest claims within an ITV News undercover investigation mean for Nigel Farage and whether more damaging revelations are still to come. Reform say there is “no room for racism” within its party. Elsewhere, President Zelenskyy says Donald Trump cut Ukraine’s access to vital satellite technology – Starlink – claiming it cost lives. If America can switch off vital military technology, how safe is Britain’s growing reliance on Elon Musk’s satellite networks? Plus, is the cabinet office heading for an historic re-brand and who will hold the power at the heart of government?

As President Zelenskyy arrives in Downing Street, is the balance of the Ukraine war shifting? Andy Burnham will reaffirm Britain’s support for Ukraine after Presidents Trump and Putin diesel deal – but can the UK make a difference without putting its relationship with Washington at risk? Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy examine the Prime Minister’s delicate balancing act as questions mount over America’s commitment to Ukraine. Elsewhere, has the government headed off a rebellion over the Courts Bill - and is its plan to build its way out of the prison crisis already unravelling? Plus, with the budget looming, economic critic Lord Jim O’Neill faces the Treasury Select Committee. Could his intervention create more headaches for John Healey?

Reform is under pressure again - but could the coming weeks prove make-or-break for Nigel Farage’s party? With fresh undercover filming threatening to cause trouble and a crucial report into the £5m gift looming, how serious could the fallout be? Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy also unpack the latest polling: is Kemi Badenoch enjoying a post-conference bounce, or are internal divisions across the political landscape reshaping the race? Elsewhere, the battle for the Budget narrative is heating up, and Sam has some intel on why business leaders could be getting extra attention from No 10. Plus, with a date set for an EU-UK Summit, Anne gauges the opinion across the continent.

With the budget barely a fortnight away, chancellor John Healey is warning of mounting economic headwinds. Can he ease the pressure on the public finances without loosening the purse strings? Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy test the tightrope Healey is attempting to walk ahead of a major speech to the International Monetary Fund. Elsewhere, is Donald Trump’s energy deal with Vladimir Putin putting the UK’s support for Ukraine to the test? And why has Andy Burnham chosen now to confirm Russian interference in the Brexit vote? Plus, Sam has an exclusive on how the promise of more money for regional mayors might not be worth as much as they were hoping.

With conference season in the rear-view mirror, Andy Burnham jets off to Germany for his first European trip as PM - but how much do Anglo-German relations matter right now? Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy look ahead to his meeting with German chancellor Friedrich Merz as the countries attempt to align ambitions and maybe find an avenue to rejoin the EU. Elsewhere, an MP gets in touch to ask whether the government is trying to curb transparency and scrutiny.

She promised a “battle for the soul of the nation” – but can Kemi Badenoch turn her vision for the Conservatives into an electoral revival? In a special debrief episode from the Tory conference in Birmingham, Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy unpack the big pledges in the leader’s speech – from abolishing inheritance tax on family homes to her deeply personal intervention on race, identity and her own mixed-race children. Has Badenoch now drawn a clear enough dividing line between her party, Andy Burnham and Nigel Farage?

It’s Kemi Badenoch’s big day at Conservative conference - but it’s not just the adoring party faithful she has to impress. Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy look at how the leader’s speech will land with both voters and party donors – in what she’s calling a “battle for the soul of the country”. There are already signs the Tories’ finances are not in the shape they need to be to fight an election on two fronts – with our hosts picking up clues from the conference hall in Birmingham. Plus, Sam and Anne check in on the state of the Green Party, after delegates adopted a motion declaring Zionism as a form of racism. What does it mean for leader Zack Polanski? You can find the candidate standing in the Holborn and St Pancras by-election here. Sam and Anne will return later for a special de-brief edition following Kemi Badenoch speech, which will be released mid-afternoon.

The ‘Burnham Bounce’ is extending Labour’s lead in the polls – so are the Conservatives anywhere near ready to challenge? Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy unpack the latest polling numbers and what they mean for Kemi Badenoch as the party struggle to define its offer on the economy, triple lock and social care. Back in London, Chancellor - John Healey - meets Britain’s biggest banks ahead of the Budget, amid growing speculation over tax rises and a key intervention from a former chief of staff to Rachel Reeves. Plus, as the United States pull out their bombers from RAF Fairford, just how serious is the threat?

Is Andy Burnham an easier opponent for the Conservatives than Keir Starmer? At Tory conference in Birmingham, Kemi Badenoch’s team sniff a chance to attack the Prime Minister – with a particular chance to seize and attack his economic argument. Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy pore over Badenoch’s ‘The Right Way’ pamphlet and how she plans to take the fight to Reform in the north and the Liberal Democrats in the southeast. Elsewhere, Anne has been speaking Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary – Helen Whately – who has a couple of blunt messages for Andy Burnham. Plus, are the Conservatives truly over Robert Jencrick after his defection to Reform?