Politics At Jack And Sam's

Andy Burnham's political opponents are finding plenty of attack lines to throw at him. So, are past comments and policy positions – from WASPI women to calls for an early election – coming back to haunt the Burnham campaign?Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy also wonder who is to blame for Keir Starmer's troubles? Well, according to a focus group of Labour members – it's all the media's fault!The duo unpack the mood within the party and the continued paralysis at the heart of government – affecting everything from the delayed reset of relations with the EU to the even more delayed Defence Investment Plan.You can see all the candidates standing in the Makerfield by-election here.

Has the unrest in Belfast sparked a new political battle over Britain's immigration systemPolitical leaders have condemned the violent overnight protest after a Sudanese national was charged with attempted murder of a man in the city.With parties scrambling to seize control of the narrative, Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy examine how the case has reignited questions about immigration, border security and the UK's system of indefinite leave to remain.Elsewhere, Nigel Farage holds his first major news conference since the local and national elections. Will Reform face renewed scrutiny over immigration decisions made by some of its leading figures during their time in Conservative government?You can find the full list of candidates standing in the Makerfield by-election here.

Is Andy Burnham having trouble putting clear teal water between himself and Nigel Farage, following comments calling for a tougher stance on immigration?Sam Coates has more from Manchester on the state of the Burnham campaign and how his movements after the Makerfield by-election remain unclear.Meanwhile, Anne McElvoy delves deeper into the defence dilemma – with military chiefs still reportedly in the dark over the contents of the Defence Investment Plan.As Defence Secretary John Healey prepares to argue that Britain needs to build more military equipment at home, questions remain over whether the government has the money and political will to fund its ambition.Plus, the duo check in on the latest polling numbers – did Reform UK's bold response to the Henry Nowak killing fail to resonate with voters? You can see a full list of candidates standing in the Makerfield by-election here.

Can Keir Starmer wrestle back the spotlight from the Makerfield by-election?After hosting world leaders in Downing Street and unveiling new plans for social media restrictions on children, the Prime Minister is trying to reclaim the agenda. But is the political attention still fixed on Andy Burnham in Manchester?Sam Coates is on the ground in Manchester where the Labour bigwigs are out in force to support Burnham's campaign. However, can the party balance the message for local voters while appealing to a national audience?Plus, Anne McElvoy has some details on the delayed Defence Investment Plan as ministers race for a solution ahead of a key NATO summit next month. A full list of candidates standing in the Makerfield by-election can be found here.

With two weeks until the Makerfield by-election, does Andy Burnham really have a plan in place to run the country?Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy examine the policy ideas – including an ambitious expansion of social housing construction – which could form a future leadership pitch.Back in Westminster, the duo assess the fierce political fallout from the murder of Henry Nowak after a tense PMQs. What does Nigel Farage's intervention mean for the government and policing?Plus, has the Prime Minister's chief ally, Darren Jones, been dragged into the Peter Mandelson scandal – with the release of a series of mysterious texts?You can see the full list of candidates standing in the Makerfield by-election here.

Westminster may look busy but are MPs just waiting for the potential return of Andy Burnham?With the Makerfield by-election just over a week away Burnham insists he's focussed on winning the seat. But behind the scenes allies are already developing ideas that could underpin a future bid for No10.Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy look at who is moulding the Burnham project and why certain plans for the economy and AI are attracting growing scrutiny from Westminster and the City.You can get the full list of candidates standing in the Makerfield by-election here.

What has Starmer loyalist Pat McFadden really been thinking when he's been out defending the PM?Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy discuss how the latest Mandelson drop makes for an awkward morning in cabinet.And they've lines from Labour's deputy leader, Lucy Powell, from a podcast recording last night. Was she hinting that a leadership coronation is better than a leadership contest?Plus, our latest voting intention poll shows Labour's Reform challenge isn't going away.You can listen to the Matt Forde Political Party podcast here.

The ghost of Peter Mandelson returns as more than 1,000 documents, emails and WhatsApp messages due to be released – but how damaging will it be for the government?With ministers, officials and advisors braced for impact, Sam and Anne assess what could be in the files, whether the most sensitive material has been withheld and what the disclosures reveal about government communications in the age of disappearing messages.Plus, with the Makerfield by-election fast approaching, the duo examines mounting speculation over Labour's future leadership.As names continue to circulate around Westminster, is the party already preparing for a post-Starmer era and will it be a slow or fast transition?

With two hugely consequential months ahead in British politics, Sam and Anne look beneath the headlines and Westminster drama to ask what really comes next.As Donald Trump escalates tensions in the Middle East once again, the duo examine the pressure on Whitehall. Would any Prime Minister, whoever occupies Number 10, make a difference or face the same issues?Anne reports back from the Prague Security Conference where former Downing Street chief of staff – Morgan McSweeney – makes a stark warning on AI, political disruption and the future of campaigning.Plus, is Britain simply ungovernable?

The Starmer government has made another blunder after it emerged that sanctions are being relaxed on Russian oil processed through third countries. As a political row unfolded, Sam and Anne discuss the fallout. Plus, Westminster is buzzing with rumours of a possible Labour coronation before the summer. If events moved quickly, what might an Andy Burnham cabinet look like? Sam and Anne discuss the possible contenders for Chancellor and whether Labour could end up with a new Foreign Secretary. And as speculation grows over what Burnham's agenda as Prime Minister might be, two of Labour's most difficult dividing lines are back in focus: single-sex spaces and assisted dying.

After a fortnight of local and national elections drama - can the machinery of government get back moving again amid global instability?With the Straits of Hormuz still shut, Sam and Anne examine a raft of announcements coming from the Treasury. Is Rachel Reeves about to open a massive argument with the NIMBYs on the right to launch judicial reviews?Away from the levers of government, the duo look ahead to some upcoming by-elections and explain the rules around the coverage of electoral events.All the candidates standing in the Makerfield by-election can be found here.

Andy Burnham makes his opening pitch to the voters of Makerfield but is he already in campaign mode for PM, as well as MP? Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy discuss his launch video.Back in London, there's a cabinet meeting this morning. Just how awkward will that be for Keir Starmer? Especially with those who were pushing him to have a plan to leave office.And what happens over the next few weeks in government if a minister has said that don't want the PM and the PM doesn't have confidence in a minister?

Andy Burnham says Britain needs a “circuit breaker for politics” as he plots his return to Westminster. But with Labour sources putting his chances of success in the Makerfield by-election at less than 50:50, will his plan to stand for PM unravel before it's begun?Sam and Anne unpack the political chaos consuming Labour, including the growing speculation about Sir Keir Starmer's exit timetable, and Wes Streeting reigniting the row over rejoining the EU.Will voters see Burnham as Labour's saviour or a man who pushes the party deeper into crisis? And does the reopening of the Brexit wars play into Reform UK's hands?

Is the Labour leadership contest about to get messy and plunge the party into chaos?Sam and Anne start the day expecting Wes Streeting to resign as Health Secretary to spark a contest, but an early intervention may have swung the momentum.Angela Rayner has come out saying a HMRC investigation into her tax affairs is over, paving a way for a challenge but will she join the contest? Can Andy Burnham find a way to enter the fray?So, as the Prime Minister vows to fight any competitor the leadership discussions are heating up.The duo analyse the developing situation and ask whether it will be straight forward or complex showdown with the PM.

Will it be a ‘showdown' when Keir Starmer and Wes Streeting meet today? Or does the King's Speech calm Labour's passions for 24 hours?Sam Coates and McElvoy wonder if any Labour leadership has got a bit stuck after a dramatic day of resignations. Because if Streeting doesn't have the numbers and Andy Burnham doesn't even have a Commons seat – what can anyone do?Plus, amongst the pomp and pageantry the duo look at the substance of the King's Speech – what bills are the ones to look out for?

Will today's cabinet showdown push Keir Starmer to make a final decision on his future?And will that mean Wes Streeting starts a leadership campaign?Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy go over the dynamics of the cabinet meeting and who of the 32 is thinking what – with Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood the most blunt so far about the PM needing to go.They also go over what they're hearing from those who want any contest to be quick – and from those who want a longer game, with Andy Burnham involved.

A speech which could define the Keir Starmer premiership – but can he reset or will it be another underwhelming relaunch?With Labour MPs on edge, leadership contenders circling and worries over what stalking horse – Catherine West – will do next, Sam and Anne look at how quickly it all could spiral out of control if the PM fails to land his message.But could a quick contest potentially backfire on some of the rivals hoping to storm Number 10? The duo discuss why a delay in any leadership election might end up suiting the likes of Andy Burnham.Plus, away from the Starmer drama, is Nigel Farage about to face an investigation from the parliamentary watchdog over Christopher Harbone's £5 million donation?

Is anyone really prepared to put their head above the parapet to challenge Keir Starmer?After a disastrous set of election results, Labour backbencher Catherine West has launched a stalking-horse threat to force the Prime Minister out.But, with rival camps in disarray and would-be successors staying silent, will the cabinet unite around a successor or fracture even further?In this special debrief edition of Politics at Sam and Anne's, the duo reveal who's talking to who and whether Labour can stop the chaos before it spirals out of control.Elsewhere, as the SNP and Plaid Cymru look likely to lead the devolved administrations will the state of the union be put into further question.

As early results are declared in England and counting begins across Scotland and Wales has the narrative of these elections already been set?With Labour losing seats and council across England, Reform are already making significant gains.The pressure on the Prime Minister is ramping up…and we don't have a full picture yet.Sam and Anne assess the early results and what they mean for the parties so far.They'll return for second special debrief episode taking in all the results on Sunday afternoon.

On the eve of a hugely significant set of local and national elections – who has the momentum and who is staring into an electoral abyss?Sam and Anne pore over the final voting intention polls before the elections – covering England, Scotland and Wales. Have the latest headlines for Reform and the Greens done any damage?Meanwhile, as part of a series of leader interviews on Sky News, Sam has been speaking to the Conservatives' Kemi Badenoch. How will she be judged at this election and what does success look like for her party?Plus, Anne has some details from the Keir Starmer camp on how they plan to deal with aftermath of the coming days.You can find all the candidates standing in the elections across England, Scotland and Wales here.Sam and Anne will return for two special debrief episodes on Friday and Sunday as the votes come in across the country.

With days until the local and national elections – amid some grim polling projections – are Labour facing a double-edged threat from both the left and right of British politics?As instability in the Middle East intensifies, Keir Starmer is preparing to host a summit to tackle antisemitism, but will Labour's punchy attack on the Greens – including claims of antisemitic remarks made by their candidates – cut through with the voters?Away from the campaigning Sam and Anne assess the state of potential leadership challengers. Are they ready and can they realistically force the Prime Minister's hand?Plus, have Rachel Reeves' warnings to the U.S. that the war with Iran would be “folly' come back to haunt her?

With one week until voters head to the polls in Scotland, Wales and England – are we about to see a seismic shift in British politics?In a special episode, Sam and Anne are joined by YouGov pollster Patrick English to break down the data and assess what it could all mean for the parties.As the vote splits across the spectrum, who is set to benefit – and is British politics entering a new multi-party era?A reminder that all the candidates standing in these elections can be found here.

Has King Charles's warmth and humour helped save the special relationship?It may be a diplomatic win for Keir Starmer in Washington, helping to steady UK-U.S. relations – but have private comments by his U.S. ambassador made life more difficult back in London?Yesterday, the Prime Minister survived a vote demanding he appear before the privileges committee, but after another blockbuster Foreign Affairs Committee session, questions remain over his judgement to appoint Peter Mandelson as UK ambassador to the United States.Elsewhere, could Angela Rayner make a comeback post local elections and will there be a wider cabinet reshuffle?Plus, Sam flags some under-the-radar issues that could be highly consequential in the long run.

What might Sir Philip Barton and Morgan McSweeney reveal about the Mandelson vetting scandal?Today, the former foreign office mandarin and Keir Starmer's former chief of staff give evidence to MPs on the Foreign Affairs Select Committee.That's before the Commons vote on whether there should be an inquiry on if the Prime Minister misled Parliament.As well as select committees and votes, there are still 13 active bills to deal with before Parliament prorogues tomorrow.Sam's in London for a pivotal day in the Starmer leadership and Anne's in Washington for the King's state visit.

Can King Charles save the UK-U.S. special relationship?As the King touches down in Washington for a state visit, Anne – who was at the White House correspondent's dinner – describes the moment a security incident plunged the night into chaos.With a critical three days ahead Sam and Anne discuss the high stakes diplomacy facing Britain and whether the strained relationship could be reset.Back in Westminster, with Parliament days from prorogation, Sam runs through the key government bills hanging in the balance and previews a major day at the Foreign Affairs Committee, as the Peter Mandelson scandal rumbles on.Plus, with 10 days until the local and national elections what options does Keir Starmer have on the table post polling day?

Will the Prime Minister ever escape the ghost of Peter Mandelson and his decision to appoint the ‘Prince of Darkness' as the UK's ambassador to Washington?With fresh committee hearings looming – including an appearance from Cabinet Office permanent secretary Cat Little – and senior ministers appearing uncomfortable defending No10 on the airwaves, Sam and Anne ask if the row is anywhere near its peak.The duo also examine the growing tension between Downing Street and the civil service and whether pulling top mandarins into political warfare risks lasting damage to the system.Over on Planet Tory, Anne has an update on the rumoured reshuffle of Kemi Badenoch's shadow cabinet.Plus, why isn't the government more worried about a shortage of jet fuel due to the Iran war?

Has the Prime Minister and No10 weathered the storm on the Peter Mandelson vetting scandal?With the dust only beginning to settle, Sam and Anne dissect the mixed, uncomfortable and carefully worded reactions from senior figures across the Labour party after Olly Robbins' combative session in parliament.Keir Starmer braces for another grilling from MPs at Prime Minister Questions on the Mandelson saga but has he contained the damage, or has he been left out in the cold to face it alone?Away from Starmer drama, the duo look at the latest polling in Wales where Reform seem to be making ground on Plaid Cymru.

The news agenda may be dominated by Olly Robbins' highly-anticipated evidence session to MPs on the Mandelson scandal – but is an even more significant story unfolding elsewhere?Cabinet ministers and other senior Labour figures (but not the Prime Minister) will gather at a key conference – setting out competing visions on growth, energy security and economic policy. Are they positioning themselves for a future without Keir Starmer?Sam and Anne assess what Labour grandees can do to revive the party's public standing and define what happens next.Plus, the duo have their weekly check-in on the state of the polls, and wonder whether the Mandelson saga has had an impact.

The Prime Minister faces another defining day as he confronts MPs over one question - when did he and No10 learn that Peter Mandelson had failed his security vetting?Keir Starmer has blamed top foreign office diplomat - Sir Olly Robbins - for not telling him, but allies of the mandarin are fighting back ahead of his expected appearance before the Foreign Affairs Select Committee tomorrow.Sam and Anne unpack the competing claims, the ongoing fallout and whether this has become a defining crisis for the PM - just a fortnight before the local and national elections.And, away from the fighting in Westminster, are Andy Burnham and Angela Rayner already planning for a future without Keir Starmer?Plus, is a Kemi Badenoch shadow cabinet reshuffle on the cards?

With three weeks to polling day, postal voting is underway in local and devolved elections across the UK - but will the process stay clean and how much could deepfakes distort the campaign?In Scotland, an almighty row has erupted between Labour and Reform over an alleged behind-the-scenes alliance to remove the SNP, with both parties branding each other liars.Down in Wales, questions are being raised over whether a party could win the most votes yet fail to form the next administration under the new voting system.Sam hears from the CEO of the Electoral Commission about the threat of deepfakes and a new pilot scheme to detect them.Away from the campaign trail, Anne has been speaking to the new German ambassador to the UK, who has struck up an unlikely friendship with a potential challenger to Keir Starmer.Plus, details of plans being drawn up for a “worst-case scenario” over food shortages if the Strait of Hormuz remains shut. You can find all the candidates standing in the local and national elections across the country here.

Donald Trump unloads another scathing attack on Keir Starmer – throwing out threats and casting doubt on the special relationship once again – raising fresh question about what could happen next.All very awkward as the Chancellor touches down in Washington for a key IMF meeting and a state visit from King Charles looms on the horizon.Away from Trump-Starmer division – Sam and Anne unpack the reaction to yesterday's exclusive revelation on the podcast that defence chiefs are trying to find more cuts to the defence budget. Is Rachel Reeves under more pressure to find cash for them?Plus, Sam has a scoop on the energy price cap and a scheme which could help businesses. If you want more analysis on that Donald Trump phone call with Mark Stone – listen to the latest episode of Trump 100 podcast here.

The man who wrote Keir Starmer's defence review says the Government is putting the UK ‘in peril' at a time of war.With more pressure to overhaul the defence budget, Sam reveals that talks going on this week to find billions of pounds worth of savings from this year's MOD budget.Also – has Ed Miliband shifted his stance on new North Sea oil and gas drilling?Plus, in our weekly polls check-in: are the Greens shifting the dial of momentum in their favour?

What is the Prime Minister's top priority as he faces down a critical month? He has a busy basket of problems on the domestic and foreign front – all set on the backdrop of a crucial set of elections.In the Middle East, with no peace deal between the U.S. and Iran and the Strait of Hormuz still blocked, a leading think tank issues some stark warnings about the impact on British households.In Parliament, as the session draws to a close, MPs face the mammoth task of sifting through 17 pieces of legislation – ranging from the Hillsborough Law to GB Rail – to decide whether they progress or fall.Plus, what does the fall of Hungary's Victor Orban mean for Europe, Russia and Ukraine?

With one month to go until the local elections in England, Wales and Scotland - is the electoral map about to be redrawn?In his first major test since the general election, Sir Keir Starmer faces a major health check and verdict on his government and leadership. Could the results reshape his premiership?In this special episode, Sam and Anne are joined by elections analyst Professor Rob Ford to discuss the key battlegrounds across the country.Can the SNP hold on for a fifth term at Holyrood?Could Welsh Labour lose power in the Senedd for the first time in its electoral history?Will Reform UK and the Greens' surge end the conventional two-party political system for good?Can the Conservatives stop the bleeding of votes across the board?Was the Liberal Democrat revival short-lived?Sam and Anne return for daily episodes from Monday 13 April.

MPs may be on recess - but as the Iran war enters its fifth week should Whitehall ramp up contingency planning for its impact at home?With the Strait of Hormuz still shut and reports of a potential U.S. ground invasion the Prime Minister will host a roundtable with key stakeholders from industry to discuss the ongoing impacts.Elsewhere, Labour launch its local elections campaign, and the duo look at the polls from a national perspective, assessing the state of the parties with a key month ahead to May 7th.Next Monday Sam and Anne return with a lookahead to the local elections with academic and pollster – Professor Rob Ford. Normal service will resume from Monday 13th April.

The Iran conflict may be dominating the headlines, but it's the unintended consequences back home that are bothering the Prime Minister.With Tehran rejecting Donald Trump's 15-point peace plan, will the government be forced to step up contingency planning to cover issues as diverse as fertiliser, fuel costs and even helium production?Sir Keir Starmer is in Finland for a military summit – so Sam and Anne assess the urgent priorities at home and abroad.But back in Westminster, the Morgan McSweeney phone theft story simply won't go away. Are there yet more questions for No.10 to answer?

How does the government plan for making sure the country has enough fuel without accidentally triggering a change in public behaviour which causes shortages?Sam and Anne discuss that tightrope this morning. Ministers will be frustrated by comments from the CEO of Shell about ‘ripple effects' from the Iran war.The UK says supplies are solid, but it'll be looking at different approaches being taken elsewhere in Europe.It's the last PMQs before recess and what's the story with Morgan McSweeney's phone theft?

Does Donald Trump always chicken out or is Keir Starmer in the dark about what is going to happen next in the Middle East? The U.S. President has paused military action in Iran for five days, but pressure remains on the government to support those struggling with energy bills.Sam and Anne unpack a turbulent 24 hours for the Prime Minister - examining how far the Chancellor can go to help those in need and whether she can afford it.Has Rachel Reeves learnt the lessons from Liz Truss – can she steady the markets and are there tricky decision coming down the line?Elsewhere, we have our weekly check-in on the polls – has the Starmer drama died down?Plus, Sam has a deep dive investigation in local councils wasting money on “unreasonable” planning decisions.

As oil prices climb again – with neither the U.S. nor Iran backing down over the re-opening of the Strait of Hormuz – what can the Prime Minister do to ease the economic strain?Later today Keir Starmer will convene an emergency COBR meeting to assess the cost-of-living impacts of the Iran war and consider if the government can further support households with a potential energy crisis looming.Sam and Anne examine the economic challenges facing the PM and the Chancellor, what role Britain is really playing in the conflict and how long could it go on for.Elsewhere, does the Home Secretary have multiple headaches over the Hillsborough law and a deal with the French to curb migrant crossings over the English Channel.

After a targeted attack on Shabana Mahmood's immigration reforms, has Angela Rayner forced another climbdown from the Starmer premiership?Rayner allies are eyeing her return to frontline politics before the May elections – will Rachel Reeves be her next target? And does the Prime Minister really need his former deputy's support?Sam and Anne consider all the factors and assess how credible a Rayner vision for Britain would be.Elsewhere, the UK launches a 50% tariff on all steel goods being imported into the country, but what is the move trying to achieve?Plus, what does the public really think of the policing system – and is the minister responsible immune from the issues?

With a full-on pointed and personal attack at the Prime Minister – is Angela Rayner beginning to position herself for something bigger?The former deputy prime minister ramped up the rhetoric – claiming that the future of the Labour party was at stake if mistakes continued and that certain reforms were “un-British.”Sam and Anne pore over her explosive comments, assessing what an ‘Ange-Britain' could look like, where she differs from the current approach being taken by Keir Starmer and what the overall strategy is.Away from Westminster, up in Holyrood MSPs vote against assisted dying - but will the decision have an impact on the legislation going through Westminster?

Global insecurity and transatlantic tensions dominate the agenda for Keir Starmer - but is the UK about to edge closer to the EU?Chancellor Rachel Reeves will deliver a speech on plans to deepen the ties with the European Union, as Donald Trump ramps up the rhetoric on Britain's limited involvement in the Iran war.But - with oil and gas supplies under pressure - how long can the Prime Minister hold back from supporting the U.S. President before needing Washington's help to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to stabilise global supply chains?Back in London, President Zelenskyy makes a visit to Downing Street - a timely reminder that the war in Ukraine against Russia rumbles on.Plus, is Angela Rayner slowly making a return to front line politics and how does it fit in with Labour's promises of reform when they came in?