Politics At Jack And Sam's

Sky News

Sky News’ Sam Coates and Politico’s Jack Blanchard with what you need to know about the day ahead in British politics. All in under 20 minutes and in your feed around 7.30am. They're across the key interviews, the main stories and what the parties...

  • 19 minutes 4 seconds
    Starmer in China: Will he trigger Trump?

    As the Prime Minister prepares to fly off to China he leaves behind plenty of problems at home – including a snap by-election in Manchester – but what will he do about it?

    Sam is on his way to the North West to see if Keir Starmer can navigate this moment of jeopardy, as some parties launch their campaigns for the Gorton and Denton seat.

    Back in Westminster, the government makes a significant announcement on ground rents.

    Plus, we have some exclusive polling looking at who could be seen as potentially doing a better job than Keir Starmer as PM – shockingly there is only one name in the mix.

    27 January 2026, 7:47 am
  • 21 minutes 3 seconds
    Can Starmer withstand the Burnham backlash?

    After a weekend of will he or won’t he – Labour’s National Executive Committee decided to block Andy Burnham from standing in the upcoming Gorton and Denton by election – but has this move just ignited a massive internal civil war?

    Sam and Anne reveal some of the details from the crucial NEC meeting – assessing how damaging the move could be and whether the argument to shut the door on Mr Burnham’s potential return to SW1 is robust enough.

    Away from the red-on-red infighting, the policing white paper is published and a significant decision looms on whether to freeze ground rents.

    26 January 2026, 7:43 am
  • 18 minutes 40 seconds
    Trump climbdown: Has January been a wasted month

    After President Trump’s dramatic tariff climbdown at Davos, the Prime Minister and European leaders will be breathing a sigh of relief – but has it left more questions than answers and can the UK claim any credit for the change in position?

    Sam and Anne reflect on a month - primarily dominated by foreign issues and U-turns - and discuss whether if it was a missed opportunity for the government to push its priorities at home.

    The duo also ponder the view of business on Starmer’s premiership and if they are calling for a change in leadership.

    Plus, the peers in the Lords back a significant bill to ban social media for under 16s.

    22 January 2026, 7:50 am
  • 22 minutes 6 seconds
    Farage lobbies Team Trump in Davos

    Donald Trump finally descends on Davos despite a delayed flight – and is set to dominate the day at the annual get-together of the global elite.

    Sam and Anne reflect on his mega press conference prior to his departure – where he criticised Keir Starmer on the Chagos deal once again – and ask whether the PM will be missed in the Swiss Alps.

    Anne has the latest on the ground, gathering intel from across the economic and political spectrum on Trump’s antics and the British position as well as the insane cost of a carafe of warm white wine.

    The duo also consider if there’s division or unity on a response to potential tariffs over Greenland.

    Plus, on the domestic front is yet another red-on-red battle about to commence?

    21 January 2026, 7:54 am
  • 20 minutes 48 seconds
    Trump unleashes Chagos Bazooka on Keir

    Sam and Anne started this episode wonder if Starmer and Trump relations were showing signs of being back on track.

    And as they were recording – the latest Trump Truth Social post calls the UK Chagos Islands deal “an act of GREAT STUPIDITY”.

    A move that’ll dominate the day – Sam explains how it’ll land in Westminster and Anne explains what people will be saying at Davos.

    There’s also more u-turn talk after ministers confirm a consultation on banning social media for under-16s and Sam hears of possible changes to the plan to scale back jury trials.

    20 January 2026, 7:54 am
  • 24 minutes 23 seconds
    Why Starmer is saying Trump is wrong

    After a weekend tariff assault by President Trump on the UK and Europe – triggered by the fallout from the U.S. ambition to buy Greenland – the Prime Minister rips up the agenda to hold an emergency news conference in Downing Street.

    Sam in London and Anne in Davos to go through what options Sir Keir Starmer has on the table and assess whether the PM should retaliate or find a diplomatic way through the choppy waters?

    Back in the Commons, Sam has the latest on the row over the Hillsborough law as the government pulls the legislation amid a battle with campaigners over how “watered down” the bill would be.

    Plus, what’s in-store on the defection front this week after a late night move by Andrew Rossindell to Reform from the Tories?

    19 January 2026, 7:42 am
  • 23 minutes 25 seconds
    Starmer’s three big woes revealed

    Is the theme of anger and unhappiness dominating British politics and what, if anything, is the Prime Minister doing to quell the mood amongst his party and the public?

    Sam has details of misery and irritation within the Labour ranks over plans to overhaul parts of the jury system to cut the courts backlog – but is another u-turn or rebellion on the horizon?

    Elsewhere, will the assisted dying bill make it over the line before the Kings speech in May?

    Is a former British Prime Minister about to be handed a senior role to oversee the governance of Gaza?

    And, we get reaction from the shadow chancellor to the state of the UK's economy.

    15 January 2026, 8:19 am
  • 20 minutes 5 seconds
    Why is the UK so bad at getting stuff done?

    Another day and another u-turn – what does the climbdown on digital ID say about the credibility and authority of the Prime Minister?

    Sam and Anne also get you up to speed on another government idea that you’ll have heard a lot about before – rail investment in the north of England.

    Can links between big cities ever be improved?

    And why is the Chancellor trying to whip up excitement like it’s not been mentioned before?

    14 January 2026, 7:43 am
  • 22 minutes 52 seconds
    Labour MPs vs the Spooks

    A row is brewing between the government, Labour backbenchers and the security services over the Hillsborough law. Sam has the intel on why MPs want it to go even further, leaving No10 in a tricky position.

    After several policy U-turns and potentially more on the horizon – is the Prime Minister still in the driving seat and to what extent?

    Plus, as Reform UK claims its most high-profile scalp so far in Nadhim Zahawi, why are the polls heading in the wrong direction and could the party be accused of being the “same team, new badge” equivalent of Boris Johnson’s Conservatives?

    13 January 2026, 7:57 am
  • 21 minutes 4 seconds
    Red on red: How X is upsetting Labour

    As global instability continues to dominate the Prime Minister’s agenda, is the threat to his premiership receding?

    After a rollercoaster week of foreign events, and now the possibility of the collapse of the Iranian regime, Sam and Anne asses the perception of his actions on the home and domestic fronts.

    Link to foreign affairs, Anne has some intel on defence spending and how the funding doesn’t match the UK’s intention to be involved in military operations across the globe.

    Elsewhere, is the government about to ban X following a fallout from the usage of Grok AI to produce sexually explicit images?

    Plus, what do Kemi Badenoch and Andy Burnham have in common in the social media sphere?

    12 January 2026, 8:17 am
  • 21 minutes 55 seconds
    Bridget Phillipson fights back

    Today, Sam and Anne ask the question, is the Prime Minister’s focus abroad distracting from his own problems and domestic reforms at home?

    With a plethora of contentious legislation to get through ahead of the spring statement in March and the Kings speech in May - the duo forecast whether there could be more rebellions down the line.

    The pair home in on the complicated problems facing Bridget Phillipson - how she deals with SEND reforms and the use of single sex spaces.

    Will the government take on parents over statementing kids, how will it be funded and is the EHRC acting in bad faith?

    8 January 2026, 7:50 am
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