Politics At Sam and Anne's

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.