Episodes

  • Introducing... The Wargame

    Introducing... The Wargame
    Jun 6 2025
    A bunker. A scenario. A group of former senior ministers, military chiefs and other experts. Russia knows our weaknesses – but do you?
    Sky News' security and defence editor Deborah Haynes presents The Wargame – a major new five-part series from Sky News and Tortoise, set in the near future.

    Launching 10th June.
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    3 mins
  • How risky is Rachel Reeves' winter fuel U-turn?

    How risky is Rachel Reeves' winter fuel U-turn?
    Jun 5 2025
    Sky News' Sam Coates and Politico's Anne McElvoy serve up their essential guide to the day in British politics.

    More details of Chancellor Rachel Reeves' spending squeeze next week are trickling out - including a U-turn on the winter fuel allowance which we now know is happening in the spending review.

    The political implications of the U-turn, rather than the broader spending review itself, threatens to dominate the political narrative for the next week and more. How much pressure will that pile on Sir Keir Starmer and his chancellor?
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    21 mins
  • Has Trump betrayed Starmer steel deal?

    Has Trump betrayed Starmer steel deal?
    Jun 4 2025
    Sky News' Sam Coates and Politico's Anne McElvoy serve up their essential guide to the day in British politics.

    The UK steel industry – which was on the verge of collapse just weeks ago – will no longer face the heaviest of Donald Trump's tariffs, the US announced overnight.

    We're the only country spared the doubling of tariffs on steel imports to the US to 50% – ours instead capped at 25%.

    This sounds great – until you remember last month's UK-US agreement – when the PM negotiated President Trump’s 25% tariff down to zero – a deal that is yet to come into force.

    What's happened? And how big a win is this for Sir Keir Starmer and for Labour in any case? Is this ensuring the revival of British steel, or merely another stay of execution?
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    20 mins
  • Who's the public's favourite (and least favourite) cabinet member?

    Who's the public's favourite (and least favourite) cabinet member?
    Jun 3 2025
    Sky News' Sam Coates and Politico's Anne McElvoy serve up their essential guide to the day in British politics.

    Exclusive polling is announced by Sam and Anne, as they reveal cabinet popularity rating according to the public.

    Also, why is the Home Office is today releasing a weather report for weather that's already been and gone? They say warm weather impacts the number of small boat crossings.

    Is this the Labour government laying the turf, readying the British public for a balmy summer, and with that, days of record Channel crossings?
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    20 mins
  • Starmer puts UK on war footing

    Starmer puts UK on war footing
    Jun 2 2025
    Sky News' Sam Coates and Politico's Anne McElvoy serve up their essential guide to the day in British politics.

    This time last year, Labour and the Conservatives were in the throes of an era-defining election campaign that would end in Sir Keir Starmer winning an extraordinarily large majority.

    The Reform Party was little more than a buzzing bee amid the backdrop of the UK political landscape. Spin forward 12 months, and how much things have changed.

    June 2025 marks the start of a crucial month for Sir Keir’s Labour Party, with decisions due across a number of departments that will shape the course of this political era.

    In the coming weeks, we'll see a security strategy, a 10-year NHS strategy, an industrial strategy, and much more – all tied to next week's spending review.

    Today, it's the turn of military spending, as Defence Secretary John Healey reveals his 'first of a kind' Strategic Defence Review.

    But does it live up to the billing?
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    22 mins
  • "Chancellor Gordon Brown" Returns

    "Chancellor Gordon Brown" Returns
    May 22 2025
    Sky News’ Sam Coates and Politico’s Anne McElvoy serve up their essential guide to the day in British politics.

    As Sir Keir Starmer waves goodbye to the Chagos Islands and his planned cuts to the winter fuel allowance, Sam and Anne assess what it all means.

    How much “backseat driving” on the winter fuel U-turn has come from former chancellor Gordon Brown? And what’s the best way to implement a volte face?

    And what do the Gauke reforms, set to be accepted by Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood, mean for our stretched prison and probation services?
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    21 mins
  • Rayner tells Reeves she’s wrong

    Rayner tells Reeves she’s wrong
    May 21 2025
    Sky News’ Sam Coates and Politico’s Anne McElvoy serve up their essential guide to the day in British politics.

    Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves will have their strategy tested today as Deputy PM Angela Rayner sets out her plan for higher taxes, and questions are raised about their approach to Reform. Is becoming Reform-lite the way to go?

    And, as the Prime Minister joins global efforts to put pressure on Israel over Gaza, could more sanctions be next?
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    20 mins
  • Kemi’s Tories drop to 4th

    Kemi’s Tories drop to 4th
    May 20 2025
    Sky News’ Sam Coates and Politico’s Anne McElvoy serve up their essential guide to the day in British politics.

    It'll be a day when the PM goes again at selling the merits of his EU deal. One former cabinet minister tells the podcast it's all 'concrete and waffle'.

    Welfare is on the agenda today too - with a DWP committee session on child welfare.

    And, did someone mention Nick Clegg? The former Deputy PM has used the c-word about the Lib Dems. Sam and Anne discuss coalition after another favorable poll for them - but it's a poll which really isn't good news for the Tories
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    22 mins