Today, Sam and Anne ask the question, is the Prime Minister’s focus abroad distracting from his own problems and domestic reforms at home?

With a plethora of contentious legislation to get through ahead of the spring statement in March and the Kings speech in May - the duo forecast whether there could be more rebellions down the line.

The pair home in on the complicated problems facing Bridget Phillipson - how she deals with SEND reforms and the use of single sex spaces.

Will the government take on parents over statementing kids, how will it be funded and is the EHRC acting in bad faith?

Three things from Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy to start your political day.

What the government is having to deal with – the unpredictability of Donald Trump.

Just as Britain signs up to troops in Ukraine if there’s a peace deal, it’s having to use its best diplomatic language on what the President’s thinking about Greenland.

What the government wants to deal with – publishing the road safety strategy which is something every driver will have a view on.

What some government sources are thinking – Sam’s got a story about whether AI is to blame for a massive rise in the number of Written Questions in the Commons.

You can vote for Politics at Sam and Anne’s in the people’s choice category at the Political Podcast Awards here - https://politicalpodcastawards.co.uk/the-peoples-choice-award/

The Starmer drama continues as the PM is warned by the Scottish Labour leader to stay away ahead of a crucial set of local elections – so, how popular is Keir Starmer across the board?

Well, not very according to the first weekly check-in on the state of the polls in 2026 – as ‘Never Here Keir’ jets off to Paris for another Coalition of the Willing meeting.

Before that, it’s the first cabinet of the New Year – and Sam and Anne have exclusive news on a potential revolt over business rates, as well as threats to industry to lobby less aggressively if it wants a u-turn.

It's a new year but does Keir Starmer still have the same problems?

The Prime Minister is already under scrutiny, at home and abroad, to clarify his position on Donald Trump’s actions to strike and capture Venezuela’s President Maduro.

Can he ‘beige’ it out or will he bow down to the pressure from his opponents and critics?

Elsewhere, as MPs flock back to Westminster for 2026, is the PM premiership in a stronger or weaker position since the Christmas break? - Sam has all the behind-the-scenes reaction.

Plus, is deeper integration with the European Union on the cards?

You can vote for Politics at Sam and Anne’s in the people’s choice category at the Political Podcast Awards here - https://politicalpodcastawards.co.uk/the-peoples-choice-award/

Could the next 12 months mould a new type of British politics, or could it break the entire system?

Sam and Anne make their predictions and get into the political meat and potatoes of 2026, focusing on:

1. If all the party leaders will still be in post?
2. Could the local elections force a seismic change in UK politics?
3. Does Britain still have a role in Europe and around the globe?

Politics at Sam and Anne’s returns for daily service on Monday 5 January.

As Parliament wraps up for 2025 – Sam and Anne reflect on a tumultuous year in British politics, looking at the highlights but mainly the lowlights.

The duo use their ‘glass half empty, glass half full’ approach to gauge if anyone can look forward to 2026 with pleasure or look back to 2025 in horror.

Politics at Sam and Anne’s will be back for a special look ahead episode to 2026 on Monday 29th December, with normal daily service resuming on Monday 5th January.  

It might be the last full day of business before parliament wraps up for Christmas but there is plenty on the menu for Sam and Anne to tackle.

The duo look at: 

• The man to beat in the race to become the next UK ambassador to the United States 
• Britain looking set to rejoin the Erasmus student exchange programme but how much will it cost the taxpayer? 
• Gossip and fallout from the Angela Rayner polling about how she’s perceived with Labour voters 

As President Trump files a multi-billion dollar lawsuit against the BBC and reported friction on the recent U.S.-UK technology deal – what state is the ‘special relationship’ in?

Sam and Anne pore over the details, look if things can get back on track or whether the President is meddling too much in UK political affairs.

Also, we have some exclusive polling from Labour voters on who they would prefer as leader of the Labour party if it wasn’t Keir Starmer.

Plus, Anne has an update on the talks held in Germany over a possible peace plan for Ukraine.

As the head of MI6 prepares to make her first public speech – is the UK facing a “new age of uncertainty?”

Sam and Anne discuss the priorities for Blaise Metreweli – identifying where the perceived threats are coming from and how Britain is being targeted.

Before he jets off to Berlin for more Russian-Ukraine peace talks, the Prime Minister will face the liaison committee as parliament begins to wind down for the year.

Plus, Rishi Sunak makes another appearance at the Covid Inquiry. 

As UK-EU reconnection talks continue in Brussels and London, are more deals in the offing, what does it mean and when will the public see the difference?

Anne has been speaking to the Minister for European Relations, Nick Thomas-Symonds, to see if any progress has been made and whether Brits can avoid the queues at immigration over the festive period. 

Back in Westminster, with a week until the Christmas break there’s plenty of business for the government to get through but it’s not all plain sailing.