29 episodes

Two of Westminster's best-connected journalists Sky News’ Sam Coates and Politico’s Jack Blanchard provide the essential guide to politics in the week ahead.

They'll be across the key interviews, the stories and the entire political agenda in order to keep listeners ahead of the game in UK politics, straight from their homes each week.

Politics At Jack And Sam's Sky News

    • News
    • 4.3 • 83 Ratings

Two of Westminster's best-connected journalists Sky News’ Sam Coates and Politico’s Jack Blanchard provide the essential guide to politics in the week ahead.

They'll be across the key interviews, the stories and the entire political agenda in order to keep listeners ahead of the game in UK politics, straight from their homes each week.

    The Week... Rishi tries to save his skin

    The Week... Rishi tries to save his skin

    Two of Westminster's best-connected journalists, Sky News's Sam Coates and Politico's Jack Blanchard, guide you through their top predictions for the next seven days in British politics. 
       
    This week, they react to MP Mark Menzies' resignation from the Conservative Party after facing allegations of misusing campaign funds, and look at what it might mean for the next election. 

    Also this week, Rishi Sunak is packing his bags for Europe. Jack and Sam discuss what's on the trip's agenda, including highly anticipated announcements on the defence of Ukraine as well as the UK's wider defence and warfare strategy.   

    Mr Sunak's Rwanda plan could finally pass through parliament too, more than five months after he unveiled the emergency laws. Jack and Sam reveal the final stage will be far from straightforward though, with MPs told to expect a long night in the Commons.   

    Plus, Angela Rayner is standing in for Keir Starmer at PMQs this week, the first time she's been in the Commons since police announced they were investigating allegations see may broken electoral law over information she gave about her living situation a decade ago. Jack and Sam discuss how she'll deal with the mounting pressure.   

    Email with your thoughts and rate how their predictions play out: jackandsam@sky.uk or jackandsam@politico.co.uk      

    • 41 min
    The Week... After Iran’s attack on Israel

    The Week... After Iran’s attack on Israel

    Two of Westminster's best-connected journalists, Sky News's Sam Coates and Politico's Jack Blanchard, guide you through their top predictions for the next seven days in British politics. 
      
    With Parliament returning after the Easter break, this week Jack and Sam discuss the government’s response to Iran’s unprecedented drone and missile attack against Israel – and how it will get across that it supports Israel’s right to self-defence but also wants a de-escalation of tensions. 
      
    They also discuss where the claims about deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner’s tax affairs go from here. 
      
    They look forward to the final stages of the Conservative’s Rwanda Bill; the fallout from the Westminster honeytrap scandal; and a vote on anti-smoking laws are all up for debate this week. 

    Email with your thoughts and rate how their predictions play out: jackandsam@sky.uk or jackandsam@politico.co.uk       

    • 41 min
    The Week... Britain faced up to big threats

    The Week... Britain faced up to big threats

    Two of Westminster's best-connected journalists, Sky News's Sam Coates and Politico's Jack Blanchard, guide you through their top predictions for the next seven days in British politics.  

    This week, Jack and Sam discuss why defence and security - both domestic and foreign - will be a big focus as they look at reaction to Friday's terror attack in Russia and claims that China has been behind cyber attacks targeting MPs and peers, threatening British democracy.  

    Plus, there's Rishi Sunak's final appearance before the Easter break as he faces questions from the liaison committee on topics including global issues, the economy and public services. 

    Email with your thoughts and rate how their predictions play out: jackandsam@sky.uk or jackandsam@politico.co.uk

    • 33 min
    The Week... Rishi Sunak faces down his party

    The Week... Rishi Sunak faces down his party

    Two of Westminster's best-connected journalists, Sky News' Sam Coates and Politico's Jack Blanchard, guide you through their top predictions for the next seven days in British politics. 

    This week, Jack and Sam discuss the building pressure around Rishi Sunak’s premiership, and how the ongoing tensions between the prime minister and Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch may spill into events this week.

    Plus, they address the weekend rumours about Penny Mordaunt as a potential leadership rival.

    There's a big moment for shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves, as she delivers a speech at a major event for the world of banking. Will her plans for the nation, should Labour win the election, impress the finance sector?

    And – which shadow cabinet member do we see most often grilled by Kay Burley and the other breakfast shows while nursing our morning cuppa? Sky’s Izzy Loseff has crunched the numbers, and Jack and Sam tell you what it says about who the Labour leader trusts to deliver his message.

    Email with your thoughts and rate how their predictions play out: jackandsam@sky.uk or jackandsam@politico.co.uk      

    • 37 min
    The Week... The government decides who is an extremist

    The Week... The government decides who is an extremist

    Two of Westminster's best-connected journalists, Sky News's Sam Coates and Politico's Jack Blanchard, guide us through their predictions of how British politics will play out over the next seven days.       

    This week, Jack and Sam discuss Communities Secretary Michael Gove's plan to change the definition of extremism and how important it really is. The current counter-extremism strategy is overdue an update, but the proposed new language seems broad.  

    Plus, the fallout from last week's budget - Jack and Sam explore the political landscape as it continues to reverberate through Westminster.  

    And with Ramadan beginning this week and no ceasefire in Gaza, how will the UK's support of a 'maritime corridor' for aid shape up? 

    Email with your thoughts and rate how their predictions play out: jackandsam@sky.uk or jackandsam@politico.co.uk     

    • 33 min
    The Week... of the Budget

    The Week... of the Budget

    Two of Westminster's best-connected journalists, Sky News's Sam Coates and Politico's Jack Blanchard, guide us through their predictions of how British politics will play out over the next seven days.

    This week – Jack and Sam do their best to predict what Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has up his sleeve for his second, and possibly final, budget statement on Wednesday. They discuss if national insurance or income tax could be cut and what language Mr Hunt might use about money for public services.

    Away from the budget – is the toxic mood of Westminster likely to ease at all this week as George Galloway makes a return to the Commons?

    Plus, the Rwanda bill in the Lords and Super Tuesday in the US.

    Email with your thoughts and rate how their predictions play out: jackandsam@sky.uk or jackandsam@politico.co.uk

    • 37 min

Customer Reviews

4.3 out of 5
83 Ratings

83 Ratings

Robbie Garthland ,

Great podcast for all things political

I love this podcast and quite often keep checking on a Sunday evening to see if it’s dropped into my downloads. Keep it up.

RoJo236543 ,

Interesting

#77 An interesting, nicely balanced political podcast.

So proud !! ,

Excellent and insightful

Chirpy, engaging and top notch. I like that they try to predict what will happen in the coming week, and then the following week assess how accurate they were...

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