As Parliament wraps up for 2025 – Sam and Anne reflect on a tumultuous year in British politics, looking at the highlights but mainly the lowlights.

The duo use their ‘glass half empty, glass half full’ approach to gauge if anyone can look forward to 2026 with pleasure or look back to 2025 in horror.

Politics at Sam and Anne’s will be back for a special look ahead episode to 2026 on Monday 29th December, with normal daily service resuming on Monday 5th January.  

It might be the last full day of business before parliament wraps up for Christmas but there is plenty on the menu for Sam and Anne to tackle.

The duo look at: 

• The man to beat in the race to become the next UK ambassador to the United States 
• Britain looking set to rejoin the Erasmus student exchange programme but how much will it cost the taxpayer? 
• Gossip and fallout from the Angela Rayner polling about how she’s perceived with Labour voters 

As President Trump files a multi-billion dollar lawsuit against the BBC and reported friction on the recent U.S.-UK technology deal – what state is the ‘special relationship’ in?

Sam and Anne pore over the details, look if things can get back on track or whether the President is meddling too much in UK political affairs.

Also, we have some exclusive polling from Labour voters on who they would prefer as leader of the Labour party if it wasn’t Keir Starmer.

Plus, Anne has an update on the talks held in Germany over a possible peace plan for Ukraine.

As the head of MI6 prepares to make her first public speech – is the UK facing a “new age of uncertainty?”

Sam and Anne discuss the priorities for Blaise Metreweli – identifying where the perceived threats are coming from and how Britain is being targeted.

Before he jets off to Berlin for more Russian-Ukraine peace talks, the Prime Minister will face the liaison committee as parliament begins to wind down for the year.

Plus, Rishi Sunak makes another appearance at the Covid Inquiry. 

As UK-EU reconnection talks continue in Brussels and London, are more deals in the offing, what does it mean and when will the public see the difference?

Anne has been speaking to the Minister for European Relations, Nick Thomas-Symonds, to see if any progress has been made and whether Brits can avoid the queues at immigration over the festive period. 

Back in Westminster, with a week until the Christmas break there’s plenty of business for the government to get through but it’s not all plain sailing. 

“Weak”, the words of President Trump to describe European leaders, but how will it go down here in the UK and across the continent?

Anne is in Brussels mopping up reaction from the “decaying" group of nations to that explosive interview from the President as re-connection talks between the UK and EU continues.

Elsewhere, Sam speaks to Kemi Badenoch about what success looks like for the Conservatives at the next set of local election – clue it may not be winning.

Plus, has the ghost of Andy Burnham returned to haunt Keir Starmer with a leadership challenge? 

As Europe scrambles to respond to Donald Trump’s latest posturing on peace in Ukraine - with the head of the Royal Navy warning about Russia’s threat in the North Atlantic - how will Keir Starmer respond as he plots a course between the US and Europe?

Angela Rayner returns to the Commons with a loyal-but-lively defence of her watered-down Employment Rights Bill, but will Labour’s leadership jitters overshadow some rare good news for Rachel Reeves?

Plus, the government rolls out its Union Jack-branded Great British Railways reboot.

Some of the country’s biggest investment managers have sent a stark signal to Labour MPs. 

They worry that any attempt to oust Keir Starmer as PM could rattle the markets, weaken the pound and risk a Truss-style shock. As Labour Together, the group that campaigned for Starmer’s leadership, tests the waters for potential successors, Sam and Anne unpack what’s happening inside the party.

In Downing Street Starmer hosts a high stake gathering with Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Emmanuel Macron and Friedrich Merz, as Donald Trump publicly pressures Ukraine to accept his peace terms. Sam and Anne look at what could be unfolding behind closed doors.

Plus, in Clacton, Nigel Farage has been reported to police over his electoral expenditure. Reform UK denies the claims.

How vulnerable is the British state from Russian attacks?

Sam and Anne discuss how the government will fund the additional defence spending and the rumblings of some unhappiness in the British deep state.

Away from defence, Sam hears of some tensions building between No10 and No11 over the handling of the budget as a formal leak inquiry is launched.

Plus, is the government machine grinding to a halt? 

With reports that Nigel Farage expects to do a deal, or even merge, with the Conservatives before the next election – is it game over for the Tories or Reform? 

Sam and Anne discuss what this potential pact could mean for the right of British politics and whether the move will be seen as weakness from Mr Farage, in essence admitting that he can’t sweep to power alone. 

Away from party politics – Anne has the latest on the seemingly never-ending talks to stop the fighting in Ukraine. 

It’s almost a decade since the referendum on leaving the EU – and it feels like Keir Starmer has turned up the dial on his Brexit rhetoric.

He said it would be “reckless” to use Brexit as a template for foreign policy.

Sam and Anne discuss what the PM had to say. 

Elsewhere, how good is the UK-US zero tariff-drugs deal really and how are voters feeling about Labour as the budget dust starts to settle?

Anne has some intel on the race to replace Lord Mandelson as the UK’s Ambassador to the United States.

Plus, a listener asks why the PM didn’t dress properly for the Guildhall last night.