Politics At Sam and Anne's

Nigel Farage has triggered a political earthquake by quitting as an MP – but is he trying to get ahead of an inevitable scandal?
Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy unpack why Farage has called a by-election in Clacton and why none of the major parties are standing against him – with some describing it as a “gimmick.”
The duo also examine whether his plans will have any material impact on the Parliamentary Standards investigation into his links with Christopher Harbone and George Cottrell.
And could this extraordinary political gamble end with a stranger twist of a second by-election just weeks later?
Plus, what impact will Rupert Lowe’s Restore Party have on potential Reform supporters.

After new claims about Nigel Farage’s funding arrangements, Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy discuss the bits of the new allegations which are worrying Reform.
Plus, what will an Andy Burnham government actually be like?
On the Treasury, the reports that he might try to split it in two seem have gone quiet but there seems to be an appetite to go early for this autumn’s budget.
Anne has also been speaking to Burnham advisor, Jim O’Neill, about what the Burnham foreign policy vision might be.

Could Nigel Farage’s alleged financial relationship with a convicted fraudster come back to haunt him?
The Reform leader is already under scrutiny over his £5 million gift from crypto billionaire Christopher Harbone and these fresh allegations about his association with George Cottrell will intensify the pressure.
Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy unpack the political, legal and ethical questions at the heart of the claims and examine whether the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards could widen his investigation.
Nigel Farage insists he "has done no wrongdoing, followed the rules" and says he is considering legal action.
Elsewhere, with a fortnight until Andy Burnham enters No10, cabinet colleagues are continuing to jostle for their positions to keep their jobs.
Plus, Sam has a potential conspiracy theory on who could end up as Andy Burnham’s chancellor.

Andy Burnham could be just days away from entering Downing Street – but who are the winners and losers from the arrival of a new Prime Minister?
Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy examine how Britain’s political landscape could be reshaped and what it means for the main opposition parties:
Can Kemi Badenoch turn Labour’s transition into a Tory revival?
Will Reform recover following a turbulent few weeks?
What are the chances of the Liberal Democrats’ quiet planning making a difference at the next general election?
Could a left-leaning PM squeeze the Greens’ vote?

The duo break down the biggest opportunities, the major threats, and the new political battlegrounds as British politics enters a new era.
The full list of candidates standing for the Manchester Mayoralty can be found here.

Team Burnham have been properly triggered over the Defence Investment Plan now they’ve found out £4.7bn of it is still to be funded.
For the first time in the transition, they’re feeling furious.
Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy have news that the scale of the blackhole is even bigger than that.
Also - is a former Conservative mayor in the running to chair Great British Railways?
And can you have more Milibands than women in the great offices of state?