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.

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? 

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?

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?

 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? 

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? 

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?  
 

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  

Sky News’ Sam Coates and Politico’s Anne McElvoy serve up their essential guide to the day in British politics.  
 
It's EU summit day – so what will Keir Starmer agree?  It’s been described as an historic summit and will be a reset of relations since Brexit. It’s expected that the EU and the UK will sign a security and defense partnership.  But so far nothing is set in stone. 
 
Plus, how sincere are Vladamir Putin's interest in a ceasefire?  

Sky News’ Sam Coates and Politico’s Anne McElvoy serve up their essential guide to the day in British politics.  
 
Today, Sir Keir Starmer heads to Albania to announce a crackdown on migrant smuggling gangs in the Balkans whilst internal political unrest continues to brew at home. 
 
Sam and Anne discuss the growing tension inside both the Labour and Conservative parties, and Sam reveals how the first cracks between the chancellor and the PM have started to form. What does this mean for an increasingly under pressure Starmer? 
 
Plus: Tory uncertainty deepens, leaving MPs wondering where Kemi Badenoch leadership is taking them.

Sky News’ Sam Coates and Politico’s Anne McEvoy serve up their essential guide to the day in British politics.  
 
It might be PMQs and there might be a big announcement about moving civil servants out of London but this episode also looks at the day in the backrooms of Westminster. 
 
There’s more to nail down ahead of Monday’s EU summit – the announcement of a state visit for the Macrons might be a clue on where talks on things like fisheries are at. So what else is going on to prepare for next week? 
 
Plus, what’s in this morning’s story about NHS reform? 

Sky News’ Sam Coates and Politico's Anne McElvoy preview how the day will play out in British politics. 
 
After Labour’s migration plans were announced yesterday, Sam and Anne reflect on the Prime Minister’s rhetoric and its populist overtones. But how authentic is it?  
 
Also, the Tories launched their own deportation bill in parliament yesterday. What’s in it and is it all a bit of a stunt? 
 
And Sam’s reflecting on his interview with Nigel Farage, where he pressed the Reform leader on a loophole in the party’s manifesto which could allow an unknown amount of people to come into the country.  

Sky News’ Sam Coates and Politico's Anne McElvoy preview how the day will play out in British politics. 
 
Today’s the day when Keir Starmer finally reveals his big shake-up of migration laws. Sam and Anne discuss the focus on low-skilled workers that’ll be big for the social care and university sectors, and how there’s a growing concern in government that the benefits of migration are being overstated. 
 
That’s how the PM wants to start the week, but his agenda might be overshadowed by international events. The Foreign Secretary will be part of today’s efforts to make sure Putin shows up to meet Zelenskyy in Istanbul on Thursday. 

Sky News' Sam Coates and Politico's Anne McElvoy preview how the day will play out in British politics.

Overnight, reports emerged of a UK-US trade announcement being hours away. Sam and Anne discuss the significance of this political win for Sir Keir Starmer "at a time he needs it most".

The pair discuss what detail is expected to be in the pact and what it means for the 'special' relationship between the two countries.

Plus, the Bank of England is expected to announce a cut in interest rates. Sam and Anne ask whether things are looking up for the prime minister?

Sky News’ Sam Coates and Poltico’s Anne McElvoy preview how the day will play out in British politics. 
 
As the fallout continues to grow following the local elections, Keir Starmer faces a challenge to his plan for change from his own MPs – are things going to get worse for Labour, before they get better?  
 
And while Number 10 thought the India trade deal was going to be a good news story for them, Sam and Anne disagree on its value.  

Sky News’ Sam Coates and Poltico’s Anne McElvoy preview how the day will play out in British politics. 

As Westminster gets back to work after last Thursday’s election results, is there the least surprising briefing ever to start the week? There’s a new crackdown on asylum claims days after Reform’s by-election and council victories. 

We focus on the Labour reaction to those results this morning – from rumours of a reshuffle to shooting down stories about winter fuel changes. What is the best way to face down a very happy Nigel Farage? 
 

Sky News’ Sam Coates and Politico’s Anne McElvoy have a Friday episode to take stock of the by-election, mayoral and local election results so far. 

Sam’s pulled an all-nighter to cover Reform’s victory in the Runcorn and Helsby by-election – it won by just six seats. It won the Greater Lincolnshire mayoralty too.  

So it’s a morning of questions to ponder – how do bigger parties respond to the Reform victories?

Could a Starmer visit to Runcorn have secured the few votes needed for victory there? And is Labour focussing on Reform voters at the expense of people at the other end of the political spectrum? 

Plus, with lots of councils that were controlled by the Conservatives still to declare, at what point does someone mention Boris Johnson? 

The morning political podcast which gives you all need for the day ahead in 20 minutes, with Sky News’ Sam Coates and Politico’s Anne McElvoy. 
 
Back on British soil, Anne joins Sam to talk about Trump's 100 days in office and whether the President is really in a tough spot. 
 
And there are reports that the US has decided a UK trade deal is a second or third order priority. Anne and Sam discuss why there has been a slowing down of the trade deal and - if and when it comes - will it be worth the wait?  
 
Also, Sir Tony Blair has made a public intervention on Ed Miliband’s green agenda – he says there needs to be a radical reset of “irrational” net-zero policies because they are “doomed to fail”. But why is he doing this? 

👉Listen to Politics at Sam and Anne's on your podcast app👈    

The morning political podcast which gives you all need for the day ahead in 20 minutes, usually with Sky News’ Sam Coates and Politico’s Anne McElvoy. 
 
But, for this episode, Anne is somewhere over the Atlantic travelling back from the US so Sam is joined by Politico’s Tim Ross. 
 
Mark Carney’s Liberal Party has won the Canadian election. It’ll give Keir Starmer a centre-left ally at G7 but how will the PM position himself now in the Trump-Carney standoff? 
 
Elsewhere, with political leaders out and about in Bristol, Scunthorpe, South Cambridgeshire and Wiltshire – there are plenty of clues about the biggest target seats in the last 48 hours before local election voting.  
      
To find lists of candidates in all the local elections, you can search here: https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/i-am-a/voter/your-election-information 

As Trump’s 100 days in office edges closer, Anne checks in from DC to bring us all the latest on a domestically difficult week for the President. 
 
Also, will the upcoming Canadian elections be a referendum on Trump from its biggest neighbours? Sam and Anne discuss what the global ramifications of that result might be.  
 
And back in Blighty, local elections are nearing and Sam explains how they might shine a light on a tension in Labour between Home Secretary Yvette Cooper and Chancellor Rachel Reeves. Will their briefs demand they push in opposite directions?  
      
To find lists of candidates in all the local elections, you can search here: https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/i-am-a/voter/your-election-information