Politics At Sam and Anne's

Westminster may look busy but are MPs just waiting for the potential return of Andy Burnham?
With the Makerfield by-election just over a week away Burnham insists he's focussed on winning the seat. But behind the scenes allies are already developing ideas that could underpin a future bid for No10.
Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy look at who is moulding the Burnham project and why certain plans for the economy and AI are attracting growing scrutiny from Westminster and the City.
You can get the full list of candidates standing in the Makerfield by-election here.

What has Starmer loyalist Pat McFadden really been thinking when he’s been out defending the PM?
Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy discuss how the latest Mandelson drop makes for an awkward morning in cabinet.
And they’ve lines from Labour’s deputy leader, Lucy Powell, from a podcast recording last night. Was she hinting that a leadership coronation is better than a leadership contest?
Plus, our latest voting intention poll shows Labour’s Reform challenge isn’t going away.
You can listen to the Matt Forde Political Party podcast here.

The ghost of Peter Mandelson returns as more than 1,000 documents, emails and WhatsApp messages due to be released – but how damaging will it be for the government?
With ministers, officials and advisors braced for impact, Sam and Anne assess what could be in the files, whether the most sensitive material has been withheld and what the disclosures reveal about government communications in the age of disappearing messages.
Plus, with the Makerfield by-election fast approaching, the duo examines mounting speculation over Labour’s future leadership.
As names continue to circulate around Westminster, is the party already preparing for a post-Starmer era and will it be a slow or fast transition?

With two hugely consequential months ahead in British politics, Sam and Anne look beneath the headlines and Westminster drama to ask what really comes next.
As Donald Trump escalates tensions in the Middle East once again, the duo examine the pressure on Whitehall. Would any Prime Minister, whoever occupies Number 10, make a difference or face the same issues?
Anne reports back from the Prague Security Conference where former Downing Street chief of staff – Morgan McSweeney – makes a stark warning on AI, political disruption and the future of campaigning.
Plus, is Britain simply ungovernable?

The Starmer government has made another blunder after it emerged that sanctions are being relaxed on Russian oil processed through third countries. As a political row unfolded, Sam and Anne discuss the fallout.
Plus, Westminster is buzzing with rumours of a possible Labour coronation before the summer. If events moved quickly, what might an Andy Burnham cabinet look like? Sam and Anne discuss the possible contenders for Chancellor and whether Labour could end up with a new Foreign Secretary.
And as speculation grows over what Burnham’s agenda as Prime Minister might be, two of Labour’s most difficult dividing lines are back in focus: single-sex spaces and assisted dying.