Politics At Sam and Anne's

As Reform UK kick off conference season in Birmingham, Nigel Farage appears to have some work to do.
The party has gone from dominating the political conversation to facing a fall in polling numbers, mounting scandals and fresh questions over Farage’s leadership.
Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy preview a crucial three days for Reform, with major announcements expected on migration and the economy – while a French connection could be significant.
Elsewhere, the Conservatives are ramping up the pressure on Andy Burnham over defence spending, unveiling their own plan on how they would cut welfare to fund more money for the military.
Plus, ahead of Sunday’s state elections in Germany, Anne reports from the campaign trail on the rise of the far-right AfD party and her dramatic encounter at a rally in Lützen.
Sam and Anne will return on Sunday afternoon for a special de-brief episode to reflect on the Reform party conference.

As Andy Burnham prepares for his first Prime Minister’s Questions, he faces a gathering economic storm.
With markets driving up government borrowing costs and the prospect of another interest rate rise, Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy examine what the turmoil could mean for mortgage holders, public spending and the government plans going forward.
Could the chancellor be left with almost no room for manoeuvre ahead of October’s budget?
The duo also look ahead to the looming Holborn and St Pancras by-election and whether the Green Party leader – Zac Polanski – will consider standing?
Plus, as Emmanuel Macron arrives in Britain, why are the French taking such a keen interest in the new PM.

Parliament is back and the honeymoon is over - Andy Burnham now faces his first major test as Prime Minister.
The PM will make his Commons debut as he promises to “bring back hope” and make life more affordable. But with pressure on public finances can he deliver on his promises to cut energy bills, cap bus fares and slash business rates?
Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy examine the gap between Burnham’s ambitious promises and the tough reality facing the government.
And the duo look at how Kemi Badenoch plans to puncture the Burnham bounce with her shadow cabinet reshuffle.

After a summer of setting out his stall, Andy Burnham now faces the hard task: turning ambition into action.
In the last of the summer boxset, Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy take a deep dive into five big challenges facing the government in the coming months.
From defining the 10-year plan to unresolved pressure at home and abroad, the duo give their take and analysis for a critical parliamentary term ahead.
With party conferences and a key budget on the horizon, can Burnham's government deliver on the change it has promised?

Is Britain ready for war?
In the third instalment of Sam and Anne’s Summer Boxset, they’re joined by Sky’s Defence and Security Analyst Professor Michael Clarke to ask: can Burnham’s government keep Britain safe?
From Ukraine to the Middle East, the trio examine the challenge facing Defence Secretary Wes Streeting and ask can the government afford what it wants to do on defence?
They also ask whether Burnham will approach Trump differently to Starmer and what the possible blowback from providing Ukraine with weapons to strike Russia could be.