Episodes

  • Is £47bn of Tory cuts realistic?

    Is £47bn of Tory cuts realistic?
    Oct 6 2025
    Sam and Anne manage about three points from the “10 things you didn’t know about Mel Stride” briefing before getting onto the substance of the day.

    (Licenced pilot and unpublished novel, by the way)

    It is the shadow chancellor’s big day at Conservative conference in Manchester – where he’ll identify billions of pounds of budget cuts – is there a distinct policy difference between ‘Melonomics’ and Reform UK?

    And, away from Manchester, should China be considered a friend or enemy of Britain after spy charges were dropped?
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    21 mins
  • Sam reveals a Tory donor defection to Reform

    Sam reveals a Tory donor defection to Reform
    Oct 5 2025
    The Conservative party conference week starts with Sam's story about another Reform defection.

    Mark Gallagher donated to Kemi Badenoch's leadership campaign, but the Tories claim he was never "really true blue".

    Also on this preview episode - the active operation to "get" Ms Badenoch in Manchester, as the leader confirms the Conservatives would take the UK out of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) if they got back into power.


    We'll have an extra episode on Wednesday to review Kemi Badenoch's closing speech to the conference.
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    20 mins
  • Kemi tells Anne "we are a distressed asset"

    Kemi tells Anne "we are a distressed asset"
    Oct 2 2025
    48 hours before the Conservatives arrive in Manchester (and some are joking that they hope the party enjoys its last conference), Anne’s got an interview with Kemi Badenoch.

    The Tory leader tells members to “hold their nerve” with her – and comes out swinging about recent defections to Reform. But was it wise to liken the party to a “distressed asset”?

    Elsewhere, Sam’s got more on the digital ID cards plan – with support apparently slipping in cabinet and in the country.

    Is AI having a role in changing some people’s minds about the controversial policy?
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    21 mins
  • Will Labour really leave Liverpool happy with Keir?

    Will Labour really leave Liverpool happy with Keir?
    Oct 1 2025
    The Prime Minister’s speech may have settled nerves amongst his party, but has he opened a can of worms by attacking Reform?

    Sam and Anne assess the mood of Nigel Farage and some within Starmer’s inner circle - who arguably seem a bit displeased.

    Plus, as conference wraps up, focus turns quickly to the deputy leadership race and things are already hotting up between Lucy Powell and Bridget Phillipson.
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    20 mins
  • ‘Renew Britain’ - but did it renew Keir Starmer?

    ‘Renew Britain’ - but did it renew Keir Starmer?
    Sep 30 2025
    This is what Sam and Anne made of Keir Starmer’s speech to the Labour conference in Liverpool.

    It was an hour that was often pitched at Middle England voters tempted by Reform – but also seemed to go down well with Labour’s soft left.

    The PM doubled down on his stance that some of Nigel Farage’s policies are racist.

    How will all that go down outside the conference bubble?

    In the Politico pub, Sam and Anne also debrief on what the PM was saying about working people – which, they reckon, is sounding a bit Bridget Phillipson.

    Sam and Anne will debrief Kemi Badenoch’s Conservative speech next Wednesday afternoon.
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    20 mins
  • Starmer's future: renewal or decline?

    Starmer's future: renewal or decline?
    Sep 30 2025
    It’s speech day for the Prime Minister but will it do the job, and can he convince conference he is the man to fix Britain?

    Sam and Anne look ahead to Sir Keir Starmer’s critical address and his argument of a choice between renewal or decline.

    The pair also reflect on the Chancellor’s speech and her strongest indication yet that tax rises could be on the horizon for the November budget.

    And away from Liverpool, Donald Trump has announced a 20-point plan to end the war in Gaza – which includes the involvement of former Labour Prime Minister, Sir Tony Blair.

    The duo will also debrief the Starmer speech in an extra episode late on Tuesday afternoon.
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    22 mins
  • Can Rachel Reeves clamber out of the black hole?

    Can Rachel Reeves clamber out of the black hole?
    Sep 29 2025
    Rachel Reeves gets her moment in Liverpool, but Sam and Anne explain why the podium at Labour conference might be the second biggest thing of her week.

    By Friday, the OBR will have put a number on the size of the black hole – the money she’s got to find to fund policy u-turns on policies such as winter fuel.

    You’re not getting that number from anyone from government in Liverpool though.

    Elsewhere, Andy Burnham is still in lots of the conversations – and we hear what members of the Cabinet are getting about him in their WhatsApps.
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    21 mins
  • Is Keir for keeps? Labour conference special

    Is Keir for keeps? Labour conference special
    Sep 28 2025
    Sam and Anne have their Labour conference curtain-raiser - and wonder if Andy Burnham has gone a little bit into the rearview mirror as delegates turn up on the banks of the Mersey?

    There are already conference titbits to share - it sounds like Science and Technology Secretary Liz Kendall will get the job of implementing digital ID cards, fresh after overseeing welfare reform.

    And Yvette Cooper’s new Foreign Office team are apparently clamping down on the use of official government planes.

    Sam and Anne will have their usual morning episodes from conference - plus they will be in your feed on Tuesday afternoon to debrief Sir Keir Starmer's speech.
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    20 mins