Episodes

  • Is Rachel Reeves the new Margaret Thatcher?

    Is Rachel Reeves the new Margaret Thatcher?
    Nov 25 2024
    Sky News' deputy political editor Sam Coates and Politico's Jack Blanchard share their daily guide to the day ahead in politics in under 20 minutes.

    Another week, another opportunity for Rachel Reeves to defend the tax rises in her budget.

    Today she'll want to reassure business leaders as they complain her plans are putting them off hiring.

    But as the government announces welfare reforms this week to get more people back into work - does the budget actually undermine those plans?

    Also this week, MPs will vote on whether to legalise assisted dying.

    With the cabinet split on the issue - how difficult is this for the government? And should individual ministers be so vocal on their views? You can send a WhatsApp to Jack and Sam on 07511 867 633 or email them: jackandsam@sky.uk

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    20 mins
  • What has Labour learned from Prescott?

    What has Labour learned from Prescott?
    Nov 21 2024
    Sky News' deputy political editor Sam Coates and Politico's Jack Blanchard share their daily guide to the day ahead in politics in under 20 minutes.

    This morning Westminster wakes up to the news that John Prescott, Britain's longest-ever holder of the title deputy prime minister, the conscience of New Labour, and - at times - its life and soul, has died.

    Jack and Sam reflect on his legacy both within and beyond party politics and ask whether Angela Rayner should inherit his intolerance of the overly liberal middle class and be the deputy prime minister of working people.

    They also discuss what lies ahead for Ukraine as British missiles are fired into Russia for the first time in the conflict.
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    20 mins
  • Donald Trump comes to Britain

    Donald Trump comes to Britain
    Nov 20 2024
    Sky News' deputy political editor Sam Coates and Politico's Jack Blanchard share their daily guide to the day ahead in politics in under 20 minutes.

    Jack checks in from Washington, which is still buzzing from Trump’s cabinet picks and 2024 ambitions, which could include a Scottish visit next year.

    PM Keir Starmer is now returning from his trip to Brazil but will miss PMQs, leaving Angela Rayner to face the new Conservative frontbench. What do we know about Alex Burghart who is being put up by the Tories to face her?

    Plus, Jack and Sam get into the social media regulation discussion and Elon Musk's invitation to appear before a select committee

    You can send a WhatsApp to Jack and Sam on 07511 867 633 or email them: jackandsam@sky.uk
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    18 mins
  • Jack goes to Washington

    Jack goes to Washington
    Nov 19 2024
    Sky News' deputy political editor Sam Coates and Politico's Jack Blanchard share their daily guide to the day ahead in politics in under 20 minutes.

    Jack is in Washington DC, where in 62 days president-elect Donald Trump will be inaugurated for a second time. There’s much anticipation to find out who will be in charge of the US economy.

    At the G20 meeting in Brazil, PM Keir Starmer navigates relations with China and the prospect of escalating conflict in Ukraine and Russia, Jack and Sam wonder if he has played his cards right.

    And in the UK, farmers will descend on Westminster in protest following Labour's change to inheritance tax relief on farming businesses in the budget. Has the government “betrayed” farmers?

    You can send a WhatsApp to Jack and Sam on 07511 867 633 or email them: jackandsam@sky.uk
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    20 mins
  • Starmer racks up more air miles

    Starmer racks up more air miles
    Nov 18 2024
    Sky News' deputy political editor Sam Coates and Politico's Jack Blanchard share their daily guide to the day ahead in politics in under 20 minutes.

    Keir Starmer is back on his travels in Brazil for the G20 meeting. On his agenda is the first face-to-face meeting between a UK prime minister and China’s president Xi since 2008.

    More on Starmer’s mind may be the expectation that the UK will follow the US’s lead in allowing long-range weapons to be used by Ukraine to hit targets within Russia.

    Putin has said that any use of long-range missiles will be seen as the involvement of Nato in the conflict, so will the move risk escalating tensions?

    Plus, Jack and Sam set up what’s ahead over the coming week.

    You can send a WhatsApp to Jack and Sam on 07511 867 633 or email them: jackandsam@sky.uk
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    20 mins
  • How does Labour avoid the Democrats' fate?

    How does Labour avoid the Democrats' fate?
    Nov 14 2024
    Sky News' deputy political editor Sam Coates and Politico's Jack Blanchard share their daily guide to the day ahead in politics in under 20 minutes.

    Today Rachel Reeves is heading to Mansion House for her latest speech on growth and pensions fund reform as she attempts to get back on the front foot following a bumpy couple of weeks after the budget.

    They also discuss Health Secretary Wes Streeting's objection to the assisted dying bill and whether it will realistically pass.

    Plus, they have the latest on what to expect from Donald Trump's tenure as he announces more of his cabinet.

    You can send a WhatsApp to Jack and Sam on 07511 867 633 or email them: jackandsam@sky.uk
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    21 mins
  • Is Blairism back?

    Is Blairism back?
    Nov 13 2024
    Sky News' deputy political editor Sam Coates and Politico's Jack Blanchard share their daily guide to the day ahead in politics in under 20 minutes.

    There are new plans from Wes Streeting to reform the NHS - Jack and Sam discuss his league table plan which isn't going down well with all parts of the health service. Does some of it sound a bit like Tony Blair?

    Donald Trump says he will nominate Fox News host and "anti-woke" commentator Pete Hegseth for his defense secretary. How will that go down at the UK's Ministry of Defence (MOD) and in other parts of the world?

    You can send a WhatsApp to Jack and Sam on 07511 867 633 or email them: jackandsam@sky.uk
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    19 mins
  • What Keir Starmer learned from Donald Trump

    What Keir Starmer learned from Donald Trump
    Nov 12 2024
    Sky News' deputy political editor Sam Coates and Politico's Jack Blanchard share their daily guide to the day ahead in politics in under 20 minutes.

    Sam calls in from Baku in Azerbaijan today, where he is with the prime minister at the COP climate change summit. The UK government wants to talk about leading the world into a clean energy transition - how ambitious is that? And can they pull it off?

    Sir Keir Starmer has also been talking about the Assisted Dying Bill which has now been published ahead of a parliament debate and vote in a few weeks' time. The safeguards in the bill mean that two independent doctors would have to be satisfied someone is eligible and made their decision voluntarily - but there are still a lot of concerned disability campaigners. Where is the government on the bill?

    You can send a WhatsApp to Jack and Sam on 07511 867 633 or email them: jackandsam@sky.uk

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    21 mins