Politics At Sam and Anne's

Andy Burnham has a vision but with a mountain to climb where is his premiership heading?
With the 10-year plan, controversial welfare reforms and a UK-EU summit on the horizon, can the Prime Minster turn his political ambition into real change.
In a special episode, Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy are joined by Paul Ovenden, Keir Starmer’s former director of strategy, to deep dive into the thinking of the Burnham government.
Has the PM learnt from Starmer’s failures, how far will he push welfare reform and could Britain eventually rejoin the EU?

It’s been a bruising night for Donald Trump at the midterm elections - losing both the House and the Senate – but what does it mean for Britain?
In a special edition, Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy hear from a variety of experts – on both sides of the Atlantic – as the balance of power shifts in Washington.
So where does the President go from here - will he double down or change course?
Could he relaunch an offensive in Iran? What will happen to the world economy? And could the fallout fundamentally reshape Britain’s relationship with its closest ally?

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.