Politics At Sam and Anne's

Andy Burnham has thrown the future of assisted dying into doubt. After telling Sam Coates that he does not want legislation to proceed until social care and palliative care are "fixed", supporters of the bill insist they are pressing ahead. But has the Prime Minister's intervention made its passage through Parliament far less likely?
Sam and Anne examine what Burnham's comments mean for MPs ahead of the crucial September vote.
Plus, new polling from POLITICO shows again the ‘Burnham bounce’ as his approval rating goes up in every demographic, except one – Reform voters. What will this mean in the long term?
And, before Sam and Anne take some time off over summer, what do they make of Burnham’s first two weeks?

Anne shares what she's been hearing about the new top team at the Foreign Office and Ed Miliband reveals what his grandfather would have said about his new job.
Meanwhile, can Andy Burnham really fix Britain's social care system? That's the big question as the new Prime Minister hosts cross-party talks on one of the country's biggest challenges.
There's just one problem: the invitations only went out on Tuesday, and neither Kemi Badenoch nor Ed Davey will be in the room. The Conservative leader is sending the shadow health secretary in her place, while Davey will join by Zoom. Nigel Farage and the Green Party's Zack Polanski weren't invited.
Sam and Anne dig into what, if anything, today's meeting could achieve.

No wonder the new prime minister is feeling chipper. Labour and Reform are now neck and neck in the polls for first time in more than a year. The biggest change? Among young voters.
But the ‘Burnham Bounce’ doesn’t stop there – with the PM not only having the pleasure of meeting President Zelenskyy on a visit to a naval base but also our very own Sam Coates.
Sam tells Anne McElvoy about his time with Andy Burnham and how his positivity and communication skills are a clear change from some of his predecessors.
The duo also discuss the latest policy announcement from No.10. This time, a radical shift in the education system that will allow teenagers to take technical subjects alongside academic ones. But how will this actually work in practice?

Andy Burnham came into office promising the biggest change in Britain for 40 years. But one week into his premiership, is Britain seeing transformation or just a different style of politics?
As Burnham unveils plans on social care, devolution and welfare, Sam and Anne ask just how big the policies announced by Burnham actually are. Is this just a continuation of Starmer with a new face?
They also discuss Burnham's foreign policy as he prepares to welcome Volodymyr Zelenskyy later today at a British naval base.

The latest policy announcement from Burnham’s new government is a 20% tax break for pubs, clubs and live music venues. That means that pub could save an estimated £1,100 a year.
Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy delve into the details and again ask, how will this be funded?
The two also discuss Burnham’s communication style and if it might need more discipline now that he’s in No.10. This is in light of the new PM’s comments on a potential review of early prison release in England and Wales.
Also, the Foreign Office has withdrawn its remaining UK staff from Iran as Donald Trump ramps up pressure on Tehran. Sam and Anne talk about what this could mean for the new Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband.