Afleveringen
-
If Labour was hoping for one of those quick and easy policy U-turns, they certainly haven’t got it. With Rachel Reeves’ spending review a scant two weeks away, the government is still having trouble explaining the details - or providing any detail, really - on how winter fuel payments are now going to work. Now that cutting the two-child benefit cap is in the mix, who is going to explain what is playing out to the general public, and when? Ed Balls thinks it’s all pretty messy, while George Osborne has got a different word for it: baffling.
Meanwhile, King Charles has just been in Canada to open up the parliamentary session. An interesting piece of soft diplomacy as Prime Minister Mark Carney navigates a tense relationship with US President Donald Trump. The pair consider - with an unprecedented second state visit to the UK for Trump on the horizon and a chaotic on-again off-again US trade war underway - how should the government best handle it?
And they turn their attention to the US tech giants dominance of the UK app store. Is the Apple-Google duology stifling UK growth?
A reminder that we’re doing our first Political Currency live show - we’ll be taking to the stage on Thursday 5th June 2025 at SXSW London. Want a chance to grab a FREE ticket and a pass to the WHOLE six day business conference, worth £600?! Sign up to be a Kitchen Cabinet member to hear how you can get your hands on a ticket!
To get episodes early and ad-free, join Political Currency Gold or the Kitchen Cabinet:
👉 patreon.com/politicalcurrency
👉 Apple Podcasts
Please note: Kitchen Cabinet is only available via Patreon.
Producer: Miriam Hall
Senior Producer: Silvia Maresca
Video Editor: Oliver Geraghty
Executive Producer: Ellie Clifford
Political Currency is a Persephonica Production and is part of the Acast Creator Network.
Subscribe now on PatreonHosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
-
Can a quick political win keep the public on side while the hard work happens behind the scenes? This week on Ex-Ministers’ Questions, Ed Balls and George Osborne debate whether Labour's lack of early symbolic moves has cost them public goodwill - and whether a bit of political theatre can actually make or break a government.
They also tackle questions from across the UK and the US: how can Kemi Badenoch rebuild morale in a bruised Conservative Party? What’s the right way to pitch bold economic ideas in a divided world? And who really decides where government contracts go - ministers or mandarins?
Plus: a look back at Keynes’s legacy with HM Treasury's Mario Pisani, a tip of the hat to Mr Bates vs the Post Office, and Ed’s run-in with a very enthusiastic listener at Harvard.
And a reminder, we’re doing our first Political Currency live show - we’ll be taking to the stage on Thursday 5th June 2025 at SXSW London. Want a chance to grab a FREE ticket and a pass to the WHOLE six day business conference, worth £600?! Sign up to be a Kitchen Cabinet member to hear how you can get your hands on a ticket!
To get episodes early and ad-free, join Political Currency Gold or the Kitchen Cabinet:
👉 patreon.com/politicalcurrency
👉 Apple Podcasts
Please note: Kitchen Cabinet is only available via Patreon.
Producer: Miriam Hall
Senior Producer: Silvia Maresca
Video Editor: Oliver Geraghty
Executive Producer: Ellie Clifford
Political Currency is a Persephonica Production and is part of the Acast Creator Network.
Subscribe now on PatreonHosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
-
Did someone say U-turn? Ed Balls and George Osborne have been saying it for a while, actually, when it comes to the matter of the controversial winter fuel tax cut. Now that the government has walked it back, will it do the trick and soothe voters and ease tensions with Labour MPs? Ed thinks the approach is “politically and technically messy”. George, for his part, thinks it’s nothing short of a damaging “fiasco” for Labour.
Meanwhile, David Lammy announced this week the suspension of trade talks with Israel, in light of the escalating violence in Gaza. Does this signal a shift in the UK-Israel relations? And will it make much difference to the crisis if it does? George isn’t so sure…
Plus, the pair discuss the newly-minted, post-Brexit deal with the EU - did Britain make the right calls and the right concessions? And a trip down banking regulation memory lane: is it time to wind back bank ringfencing, an ongoing legacy from the Osborne era?
And a reminder, we’re doing our first Political Currency live show - we’ll be taking to the stage on Thursday 5th June 2025 at SXSW London. Want a chance to grab a FREE ticket and a pass to the WHOLE six day business conference, worth £600?! Sign up to be a Kitchen Cabinet member to hear how you can get your hands on a ticket!
To get episodes early and ad-free, join Political Currency Gold or the Kitchen Cabinet:
👉 patreon.com/politicalcurrency
👉 Apple Podcasts
Please note: Kitchen Cabinet is only available via Patreon.
Producer: Miriam Hall
Senior Producer: Silvia Maresca
Video Editor: Oliver Geraghty
Executive Producer: Ellie Clifford
Political Currency is a Persephonica Production and is part of the Acast Creator Network.
Subscribe now on PatreonHosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
-
California Governor hopeful Steve Hilton has a question for Ed Balls and George Osborne this week: which American state would they choose to live in, and would they rather be a senator or a governor? A trip down fantasy lane has the pair questioning the best path to political glory, based on previous presidents’ CVs. Ed Balls for 2032? Seems… far fetched.
Back in the real world, the pair debate whether cutting Employer National Insurance Contributions could help get people back into work - and whether Trump’s approach to tariffs has, unintentionally, made him a little bit green.
Plus, they reflect on their time facing PMQs in Parliament - and what was really driving their biggest moments at the despatch box.
Some exciting news from us! We’re doing our first Political Currency live show - we’ll be taking to the stage on Thursday 5th June 2025 at SXSW London. Want a chance to grab a FREE ticket and a pass to the WHOLE six day business conference, worth £600?! Sign up to be a Kitchen Cabinet member to hear how you can get your hands on a ticket!
To get episodes early and ad-free, join Political Currency Gold or the Kitchen Cabinet:
👉 patreon.com/politicalcurrency
👉 Apple Podcasts
Please note: Kitchen Cabinet is only available via Patreon.
Producer: Miriam Hall
Senior Producer: Silvia Maresca
Video Editor: Oliver Geraghty
Executive Producer: Ellie Clifford
Political Currency is a Persephonica Production and is part of the Acast Creator Network.
Subscribe now on PatreonHosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
-
Keir Starmer’s controversial reference to an “Island of strangers” as part of his immigration overhaul has sparked a furore, and inspired a comparison to his previous stance on migration. Ed Balls thinks while there’s no doubt it will cause some consternation, it will be a price worth paying. George Osborne, meanwhile, is getting Tory vibes … it all sounds a bit like it could’ve come from a Conservative government to him.
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump is on a glitzy tour of the Middle East, shaking off any suggestion the gift of a plane from Qatar might be running afoul of a little thing called the US constitutional emoluments clause. What’s the foreign policy impact of this trip?
And speaking of the president, the pair consider Trump’s tariff on film production outside the US. It’s a bid to restore the American film industry to its former glory, but at what cost? And what kind of fallout will there be in the UK’s industry?
Plus, some exciting news from us! We’re doing our first Political Currency live show - we’ll be taking to the stage on Thursday 5th June 2025 at SXSW London. Want a chance to grab a FREE ticket and a pass to the WHOLE six day business conference, worth £600?! Sign up to be a Kitchen Cabinet member to hear how you can get your hands on a ticket!
To get episodes early and ad-free, join Political Currency Gold or the Kitchen Cabinet:
👉 patreon.com/politicalcurrency
👉 Apple Podcasts
Please note: Kitchen Cabinet is only available via Patreon.
Producer: Miriam Hall
Senior Producer: Silvia Maresca
Video Editor: Oliver Geraghty
Executive Producer: Ellie Clifford
Political Currency is a Persephonica Production and is part of the Acast Creator Network.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Subscribe now on PatreonHosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
-
This week on Ex Ministers’ Questions Ed Balls and George Osborne hear from listeners from the high seas, the Dubai sun, and the halls of Parliament - including a Gold subscriber who circumnavigated the globe listening to the podcast under the stars.
The pair consider, has the press been too negative on the government’s brand new free trade deal with India? And while they’re talking about global alliances, they share their thoughts on CANZUK, a proposed alliance between Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the UK.
Meanwhile, the newly-elected Reform UK Mayor Andrea Jenkyns asks for advice on putting Greater Lincolnshire on the map. They weigh in on how cash-strapped local councils can protect the most vulnerable. And they cast their minds back to when they last slept out in a tent…
To get episodes early and ad-free, join Political Currency Gold or the Kitchen Cabinet:
👉 patreon.com/politicalcurrency
👉 Apple Podcasts
Please note: Kitchen Cabinet is only available via Patreon.
Producer: Miriam Hall
Senior Producer: Silvia Maresca
Video Editor: Danny Pape
Executive Producer: Dino Sofos
Political Currency is a Persephonica Production and is part of the Acast Creator Network.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Subscribe now on PatreonHosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
-
It’s been an impressive week for the Labour government, with trade deals with both India and the US. Ed Balls and George Osborne consider: what does this say about the Starmer government’s ‘softly-softly’ approach to the wildly unpredictable Trump administration? Being the first in the world to ink a deal with the Americans is nothing to be sniffed at, even if it is a little light on the details – but they both agree the big prize will be a deal with the European Union.... What role will free labour movement play? And what price will Labour be willing to pay, considering the all-important need to keep voters placated on matters of immigration and the economy?
Back home, Nigel Farage claims his Reform Party is now the official opposition of the land following a bruising local election for both the major parties. Ed and George consider how both Labour and the Tories will need to position themselves to keep their base.
Plus, they turn to the matter of interest rates. The US Federal reserve opted to keep the base rate steady, while the Bank of England has granted borrowers something of a reprieve. What does this say about the direction of the British economy?
To get episodes early and ad-free, join Political Currency Gold or the Kitchen Cabinet:
👉 patreon.com/politicalcurrency
👉 Apple Podcasts
Please note: Kitchen Cabinet is only available via Patreon.
Producer: Miriam Hall
Senior Producer: Silvia Maresca
Video Editor: Danny Pape
Executive Producer: Ellie Clifford
Political Currency is a Persephonica Production and is part of the Acast Creator Network.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Subscribe now on PatreonHosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
-
Ed Balls and George Osborne, fresh from a break for the Inside the Room Series: The Election that Never Was, jump straight back in with a slew of questions. With George’s old mate and former David Cameron adviser Steve Hilton jumping into the Governor’s race in California they counsel a stateside Republican voter (and Kitchen Cabinet member) on whether they think he’s a good choice.
They also mull data sources for parliamentarians. Are there rules on what’s fair game when crunching the numbers? Or can you cherry pick and choose as it suits? They turn philosophical: is there ever a point when politics and policy has totally served its purpose?
A listener who has been using the show to work up to GCSE studies asks: What’s the best way to get across the financial aspect of politics? The pair share their tips on the best ways to build a good political and economic understanding in today’s climate.
To get episodes early and ad-free, join Political Currency Gold or the Kitchen Cabinet:
👉 patreon.com/politicalcurrency
👉 Apple Podcasts
Please note: Kitchen Cabinet is only available via Patreon.
Producer: Miriam Hall
Senior Producer: Silvia Maresca
Video Editor: Oliver Geraghty
Executive Producer: Dino Sofos
Political Currency is a Persephonica Production and is part of the Acast Creator Network.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Subscribe now on PatreonHosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
-
Local elections are taking place across England today - and they’re a major political test for Keir Starmer, Kemi Badenoch, and Nigel Farage. Ed Balls and George Osborne break down what’s at stake in these key contests, from mayoral races to a critical by-election.
Meanwhile, across the pond, Donald Trump has just hit 100 days in office. With stock markets reeling, 142 executive orders signed, and a trade war brewing, Ed and George ask how Keir Starmer should handle the ‘special relationship’ with a now even more unpredictable White House?
Plus, Mark Carney - the former Bank of England Governor - has just led his party to victory in Canada. A backlash to Trump, or a one-off? And what might it signal for upcoming elections in Australia and beyond?
To get episodes early and ad-free, join Political Currency Gold or the Kitchen Cabinet:
👉 patreon.com/politicalcurrency
👉 Apple Podcasts
Please note: Kitchen Cabinet is only available via Patreon.
Producer: Miriam Hall
Senior Producer: Silvia Maresca
Video Editor: Oliver Geraghty
Executive Producer: Dino Sofos
Political Currency is a Persephonica Production and is part of the Acast Creator Network.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Subscribe now on PatreonHosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
-
To Snap or Not to Snap?... As we turn to October 2007, election fever has taken over the UK - everyone from journalists to the opposition to Ed Balls himself is expecting Gordon Brown to call a snap general election. But with the polls lurching back towards the Tories, Brown gets cold feet.
In the final episode of this series, Deborah Mattinson rejoins the series to recall those final war room discussions with Gordon Brown himself and his closest advisors, discussions that end up with the election… aborted.
Brown chooses to make this public in a blockbuster Downing Street interview with Andrew Marr, who joins us in the studio for the second half of the show to take us behind the scenes at that momentous juncture. How did he end up with the scoop, what was Gordon Brown’s demeanor in the room, and why did he decide to break the news as soon as he walked out the door of number 10?
To listen our bonus 'The Inquiry' episode, where Ed and George reflect on this series, sign up to Political Currency Gold or our Kitchen Cabinet. Head to Apple Podcasts or www.patreon.com/PoliticalCurrency to find out more.
Producers: John Rogers and Miriam Hall
Technical Producer: Danny Pape
Executive Producers: Ellie Clifford and Dino Sofos
Political Currency is a Persephonica Production and is part of the Acast Creator Network
Subscribe now on PatreonHosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
-
Election Speculation... Labour had a substantial lead in the polls in 2007, fuelling talk of a snap general election to cement Gordon Brown’s place in Number 10. And things only got better as the party arrived in Bournemouth for their party conference. By the end of it, election fever was well and truly in the air.
To listen to episode 3 straight away, sign up to Political Currency Gold or our Kitchen Cabinet. Head to Apple Podcasts or www.patreon.com/PoliticalCurrency to find out more. Subscribers will also get exclusive access to 'The Inquiry' - our bonus episode where Ed and George give their reflections on the series.
EPISODE 2: Labour’s rivals had to follow the show, and shadow chancellor George Osborne had an ace up his sleeve to unveil at their own conference in Blackpool: a hugely popular cut on inheritance tax. David Cameron followed it up with his own surprise move, a ‘no-notes’ speech that was well received. Suddenly, the polls swung back, erasing the Labour lead in less than a week. Deborah Mattinson - a key pollster for Gordon Brown - continues in the studio with George and Ed to relive these tumultuous couple of weeks.
Producers: John Rogers and Miriam Hall
Technical Producer: Danny Pape
Executive Producers: Ellie Clifford and Dino Sofos
Political Currency is a Persephonica Production and is part of the Acast Creator Network
Subscribe now on PatreonHosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
-
Gordon Brown Takes the Crown... Ed Balls and George Osborne relive the sliding doors moment that could have changed the course of British history - the 2007 election that never was.
To listen to episodes 2 and 3 straight away, sign up to Political Currency Gold or our Kitchen Cabinet. Head to Apple Podcasts or www.patreon.com/PoliticalCurrency to find out more. Subscribers will also get exclusive access to 'The Inquiry' - our bonus episode where Ed and George give their reflections on the series.
EPISODE 1: Gordon Brown had sat in Tony Blair’s shadow for over a decade. But suddenly, in the summer of 2007, he had his chance. As Blair stepped back, Brown stepped up - from Number 11 to Number 10 - without a single vote being cast. On the 27th June, he visited Buckingham Palace, and accepted the invitation from Queen Elizabeth II to form a government.
His first three months were somewhat chaotic. Before his first PMQs, he was dealing with terrorism attacks in London and Glasgow. An outbreak of foot and mouth disease came soon after, as did flooding across the country. And then came the runs on Northern Rock, the canary in the coal mine of the impending financial crash.
George and Ed go 'Inside The Room' with Deborah Mattinson, Gordon Brown’s chief pollster. Deborah and Ed were inside many of the same Labour war rooms together, as trusted lieutenants of the former Iron Chancellor, and they recall these positive early days of the Brown premiership.
George, meanwhile, takes us inside the Tory camp of that era and David Cameron’s struggle to land effective blows against Brown. We also hear from Andy Coulson, the Tory head of communications during that period.
Producers: John Rogers and Miriam Hall
Technical Producer: Danny Pape
Executive Producers: Ellie Clifford and Dino Sofos
Political Currency is a Persephonica Production and is part of the Acast Creator Network
Subscribe now on PatreonHosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
-
In this Easter special, Ed Balls and George Osborne meet a truly mythical creature: someone who wants to pay more tax, not less. And according to George, there’s actually a way to do it.
They also discuss a big political what-if: what happens if a Prime Minister loses their seat? They've talked before about how someone can become PM without being an MP - think Mark Carney in Canada - but this week they flip the question: could one keep the top job if your constituents vote you out?
Also in the mix: is a government running out of money about to come for your pension? Would scrapping the tax-free lump sum be a smart or desperate move? And is it time to give our big cities more power - and more room to grow?
And a note, don’t miss our upcoming Inside the Room: The Election That Never Was - which is out tomorrow for subscribers and Monday for everyone else.
Become a member of POLITICAL CURRENCY GOLD 🏅 to support the podcast, enjoy ad-free listening to all our episodes and receive early access to EMQs. Or, join Political Currency’s KITCHEN CABINET to enjoy early and ad-free listening, access to live EMQs recordings, and exclusive Political Currency merch.
Subscribe now: patreon.com/politicalcurrency or on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/politicalcurrency. Please note Kitchen Cabinet subscriptions are only available through Patreon.
Technical Producer: Danny Pape
Producers: Miriam Hall and Silvia Maresca
Executive Producers: Dino Sofos and Ellie Clifford
Political Currency is a Persephonica Production and is part of the Acast Creator Network.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Subscribe now on PatreonHosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
-
As the US-China trade war heats up, Ed Balls and George Osborne ask: what if the Trump White House took the nuclear option… defaulting on its debts to China? Ed explains why that could be a catastrophic thing to do, while George points to the ‘Mar-a-Lago Accord’ as a way that the US in reality may negotiate its debt.
Sticking with Trump, Ed and George also ponder ‘patrimonalism’ – a term coined by Max Weber to describe governance by personal loyalty and kinship… Is Donald Trump the first patrimonial President of the United States?
Josh Simons MP, a rising star in the Labour Party, asks for advice on getting government backing for a new road in his Makerfield constituency. Is he right to lobby the Housing and Transport departments, and what sort of arguments will pique the interest of the Labour leadership?
Right now, the UK has eight living former Prime Ministers. Ed and George conclude by comparing their behaviour upon leaving Number 10. Which PMs clearly can’t let go, and whose stock has risen over time?
Technical Producer: Danny Pape
Producers: Miriam Hall and Jarek Żaba
Executive Producer: Dino Sofos
Political Currency is a Persephonica Production and is part of the Acast Creator Network.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Become a member of POLITICAL CURRENCY GOLD 🏅 to support the podcast, enjoy ad-free listening to all our episodes and receive early access to EMQs. Or, join Political Currency’s KITCHEN CABINET to enjoy early and ad-free listening, access to live EMQs recordings, and exclusive Political Currency merch.
Subscribe now: patreon.com/politicalcurrency or on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/politicalcurrency. Please note Kitchen Cabinet subscriptions are only available through Patreon.
Subscribe now on PatreonHosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
-
It’s been a rollercoaster few days for the world economy thanks to Donald Trump’s ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs announcement - and his dramatic U-turn a scant week later. With a 90-day pause for every country hit - aside from China - Ed Balls and George Osborne consider the significance of a hugely disappointing auction of US treasuries, and how it led to Trump’s Treasury Secretary warning him of a looming economic crisis.
They ask: are we watching in real time the US tearing at the foundations of the very system they created? And are there now the first rumblings of Republican discontent? Seems like there’s the first signs of figures in Congress and on Wall Street starting to dissent …
Meanwhile, Keir Starmer has vowed to ‘turbocharge’ the UK economy in the face of global economic tumult. George runs through the options available to the Prime Minister… Is the answer in softening ‘ironclad’ fiscal rules, deals with India or the EU, or hoovering up scientific talent alienated from the US?
And they turn their attention to a Harvard and Kings College London paper, co-authored by Professor Ed Balls – what can the UK learn from ‘Bidenomics’?
Become a member of POLITICAL CURRENCY GOLD 🏅 to support the podcast, enjoy ad-free listening to all our episodes and receive early access to EMQs. Or, join Political Currency’s KITCHEN CABINET to enjoy early and ad-free listening, access to live EMQs recordings, and exclusive Political Currency merch.
Subscribe now: patreon.com/politicalcurrency or on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/politicalcurrency. Please note Kitchen Cabinet subscriptions are only available through Patreon.
Technical Producer: Danny Pape
Producers: Miriam Hall and Jarek Żaba
Executive Producer: Dino Sofos
Political Currency is a Persephonica Production and is part of the Acast Creator Network.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Subscribe now on PatreonHosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
-
This week, Ed Balls and George Osborne mull museums and memes via bank holidays and pennies. With listeners telling us their locations of choice, funeral director Ross ranks highly with his admission that Ed and George are sometimes listened to in a hearse on the drive home. The pair consider: what are the merits of regulating the funeral industry?
Should our cultural institutions be charging more for access?
George calls upon his expertise as Chair of the British Museum to weigh it up. Meanwhile, Ed shares his own research into the economics of a bank holiday… do we really stand to lose billions if the government was to introduce another?
Toxic masculinity and online safety are in the spotlight in the wake of Netflix’s hit show Adolescence, with research indicating that young people in the UK are particularly worried about these issues. Ed and George look at the role of government in addressing their concerns, before assessing whether the humble penny should remain a staple of British life.
And a touch of nostalgia … a listener reminds the economic duo of the ‘Budget Rap Battle’, put together by Sky News when the pair were on opposite sides of the dispatch box. Ed expresses scepticism that such memes can make a political difference, although both agree that Nick Clegg’s I’m Sorry remix was a damaging – albeit amusing – moment in the Lib Dem leader’s career….
Become a member of POLITICAL CURRENCY GOLD 🏅 to support the podcast, enjoy ad-free listening to all our episodes and receive early access to EMQs. Or, join Political Currency’s KITCHEN CABINET to enjoy early and ad-free listening, access to live EMQs recordings, and exclusive Political Currency merch.
Subscribe now: patreon.com/politicalcurrency or on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/politicalcurrency. Please note Kitchen Cabinet subscriptions are only available through Patreon.
Technical Producer: Danny Pape
Producers: Miriam Hall and Jarek Żaba
Executive Producer: Dino Sofos
Political Currency is a Persephonica Production and is part of the Acast Creator Network.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Subscribe now on PatreonHosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
-
In the wake of Donald Trump’s ‘Liberation Day’, Ed Balls and George Osborne break down the economic thinking – or lack thereof – behind President’s tariffs. Rather than the numbers emerging from complicated analysis, Ed explains how they are merely reached through a simple formula. Will the Federal Reserve be able to cut interest rates as quickly as Trump would like in the wake of his tariffs?
Back home, Keir Starmer is calling for calm and resisting a push to reciprocate, as he seeks to strike an ‘economic prosperity deal’ with the US. Is a wider security concern at play here?
And on the other side of the globe, Australians are preparing for a federal election, called by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for May 3rd. It’s currently looking like a neck and neck contest. Peter Dutton, his Liberal Party opponent, has previously made Elon Musk-like noises, creating his very own shadow ministry for government efficiency… But at a time when Musk might be finding himself out of favour, is this a wise way for Dutton to position himself?
Become a member of POLITICAL CURRENCY GOLD 🏅 to support the podcast, enjoy ad-free listening to all our episodes and receive early access to EMQs. Or, join Political Currency’s KITCHEN CABINET to enjoy early and ad-free listening, access to live EMQs recordings, and exclusive Political Currency merch.
Subscribe now: patreon.com/politicalcurrency or on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/politicalcurrency. Please note Kitchen Cabinet subscriptions are only available through Patreon.
Technical Producer: Danny Pape
Producers: Miriam Hall and Jarek Żaba
Executive Producer: Dino Sofos
Political Currency is a Persephonica Production and is part of the Acast Creator Network.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Subscribe now on PatreonHosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
-
A whole host of Treasury buffs have sent in their questions this week in wake of the Spring Statement, for Ed Balls and George Osborne to answer. Former Chancellor Jeremy Hunt asks whether in the light of Labour’s announcing civil service reductions and welfare reform, the government is “stealing our clothes”?
Lord Macpherson, Permanent Secretary to no less than three Chancellors, praises Rachel Reeves’ “courageous” claim of non-negotiability on her fiscal rules (which George translates as a euphemism for ‘bonkers’).
Shadow Chancellor Mel Stride is predictably critical of the Chancellor’s choices, but how much is Rachel Reeves to blame for the situation she finds herself in?
And Ruth Curtice, Chief Executive of the Resolution Foundation and another former Treasury civil servant, sparks a conversation about how living standards will ultimately dictate Labour’s electoral chances.
Plus, Ed and George also clash over Keir Starmer’s use of “coalition of the willing” - is this a conscious attempt to provoke American sentiment, or simply a widely used buzzphrase?
You could have been listening to this episode of EMQs early and ad-free with a Political Currency Gold subscription! And even better, you can now get even more perks by becoming a member of our KITCHEN CABINET to get access to live tickets, merch and more!
Subscribe now: patreon.com/politicalcurrency or on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/politicalcurrency. Please note Kitchen Cabinet subscriptions are only available through Patreon.
Technical Producer: Danny Pape
Producers: Miriam Hall and Jarek Żaba
Executive Producer: Ellie Clifford
Political Currency is a Persephonica Production and is part of the Acast Creator Network.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Subscribe now on PatreonHosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
-
Has Chancellor Rachel Reeves got it right? Ed Balls and George Osborne provide their immediate reaction to her Spring Statement, questioning whether she’s missed her big opportunity for a relaunch. George likens her approach to ‘staying at the Roulette table’, having failed to land on black the first time around…
He also compares her inflexibility to fiscal rules to his own approach while Chancellor, before the pair turn their attention to the government’s own impact assessment on welfare reform. Ed explains what the findings of the report potentially means for millions of families across the country.
And, having returned from the HSBC Global Investment Summit in Hong Kong mere hours before recording, they turn their attention to uncertainty over the global economy following the announcement of yet more tariffs from Donald Trump. They also ponder somewhat gloomy international perceptions of the UK, with Brexit and Liz Truss being consistent themes that are still raised in conversations abroad.
Finally the US national security establishment strayed into farcical territory this week, sharing operational details of a strike on Houthi rebels in Yemen on the messaging app Signal - and accidentally including the editor of The Atlantic, Jeff Goldberg, in the conversation. George and Ed express their bemusement at this turn of events and share their own experiences in government of receiving highly classified intelligence...
You could have been listening to this episode of EMQs early and ad-free with a Political Currency Gold subscription! And even better, you can now get even more perks by becoming a member of our KITCHEN CABINET to get access to live tickets, merch and more!
Subscribe now: patreon.com/politicalcurrency or on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/politicalcurrency. Please note Kitchen Cabinet subscriptions are only available through Patreon.
Technical Producer: Daniel Pape
Producer: Miriam Hall and Jarek Żaba
Executive Producers: Ellie Clifford
Political Currency is a Persephonica Production and is part of the Acast Creator Network.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Subscribe now on PatreonHosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
-
With talk of raiding pensions, George Osborne and Ed Balls consider how to increase the incentives for working people to save. As former Treasury insiders, the pair reflect on specific parts of their own previous pension reforms and ask: what approaches would they take if they were still setting policy today?
They’re also pressed on recent arguments made by Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak that Russian assets held in European banks should be directly channelled towards the Ukrainian war effort. Is this a viable approach to funding support for Ukraine?
And how can Mark Carney become Prime Minister of Canada without sitting as a member of Parliament? From Lord Halifax to Alec Douglas-Home, George provides an overview of historical precedent for such an occurrence in the UK whilst explaining the impracticalities of it happening today. But what is the one British government role that demands you be an MP?
Finally a question to you, our EMQ listeners – what are your favourite hobbies and pastimes to do whilst listening to the podcast? And can you beat this week’s question-asker?
You could have been listening to this episode of EMQs early and ad-free with a Political Currency Gold subscription! And not only that… get even more exclusive perks by signing up to be a member of our KITCHEN CABINET! Including bonus content, access to live events, exclusive merch and more.
Subscribe now: patreon.com/politicalcurrency or on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/politicalcurrency. Please note Kitchen Cabinet subscriptions are only available through Patreon.
Technical Producer: Danny Pape
Producers: Miriam Hall and Jarek Żaba
Executive Producer: Ellie Clifford
Political Currency is a Persephonica Production and is part of the Acast Creator Network.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Subscribe now on PatreonHosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- Laat meer zien
