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PODCAST

Political Currency

Ed Balls and George Osborne take us behind closed doors into the rooms where decisions are made. Having battled it out across the despatch box, the former Chancellor and shadow chancellor now meet in the studio to discuss the decisions that affect the nation’s pockets. Our frenemies have the knowledge and experience to explain how good politics follows the economics - and expose how the powerful become powerless when faced with market forces and political currents they can’t control. Join us every

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All Episodes

33:40

EMQs: Political Mishearings

Political Currency ·

2024/12/16

This week, George Osborne and Ed Balls consider: should economic decisions be confined to the Treasury and the Prime Minister? Or is the room for wider cabinet discussion?Meanwhile, Lyanne Nicholl, the CEO of 50:50 Parliament – an organisation dedicated to driving more female representation in government – asks Ed and George to share their most positive words of wisdom for someone weighing a career in politics. The pair reveal the women they’ve encouraged to go into the government game, and where

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53:42

Starmer’s blame game

Political Currency ·

2024/12/12

Keir Starmer is working hard to shift the narrative on his government from gloomy tax raiders to optimistic change makers. Ed Balls and George Osborne asses whether he’s leaning too hard into blame. Does he need to stop the finger pointing and get on and deliver?Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria collapsed this week — a sudden, stunning end to the Assad family’s five-decade reign. Ed and George reflect on the Syrian civil war and its impact on their time in politics. What is going on in Downing

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34:25

EMQs: Can one person flip an election?

Political Currency ·

2024/12/09

Who are the individuals who’ve influenced elections in the same way as Elon Musk? Ed Balls and George Osborne run through some of the great drivers of political results over the years - from people on the street to press barons.Plus, with our Inside The Room miniseries with Nicola Sturgeon now wrapped up, George and Ed take listener questions on the matter of the 2014 referendum and the ongoing, simmering tensions around Scottish independence. Would England be economically better off without

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1:02:32

Why Starmer shouldn’t underestimate Elon Musk

Political Currency ·

2024/12/04

After helping to secure a victory for Donald Trump in the US election Elon Musk is seemingly setting his sights on the UK and Reform. Ed Balls and George Osborne take stock of whether Keir Starmer and Kemi Badenoch should be worried. Is this another sign of the end of the two-party system?The historic vote on assisted dying last week has brought a whole new set of questions and challenges for the government. How Labour will balance its plans for the NHS with this potential landmark legislation? And

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33:40

Inside The Room: The Scottish Independence Referendum...

Political Currency ·

2024/12/03

A decade ago, the Scottish people went to the polls for a referendum vote to make a choice: should the country break free of the United Kingdom? Ultimately, they voted to stay by a resounding margin – crushing the hopes of the Scottish National Party and soothing the fears of the British government of the day. But the issue of Independence continues to divide, and in this special miniseries, George Osborne and Ed Balls are joined by the former First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon to take a

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29:49

Inside The Room: The Scottish Independence Referendum...

Political Currency ·

2024/12/02

A decade ago, the Scottish people went to the polls for a referendum vote to make a choice: should the country break free of the United Kingdom? Ultimately, they voted to stay by a resounding margin – crushing the hopes of the Scottish National Party and soothing the fears of the British government of the day. But the issue of Independence continues to divide, and in this special miniseries, George Osborne and Ed Balls are joined by the former First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon to take a

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59:10

Trump the peacemaker?

Political Currency ·

2024/11/28

Joe Biden's White House days are numbered, and he appears to be scrambling to secure his legacy. With a ceasefire just brokered between Israel and Lebanon, George Osborne and Ed Balls ask: What kind of influence is the returning President Trump already having on foreign policy? How is the transition really working? And what does this mean for the conflict in Ukraine? Is the Trump effect forcing world leaders to harden up and have a real, public conversation about a peace deal?Back home, Rachel

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32:41

Inside The Room: The Scottish Independence Referendum...

Political Currency ·

2024/11/25

A decade ago, the Scottish people went to the polls for a referendum vote to make a choice: should the country break free of the United Kingdom? Ultimately, they voted to stay by a resounding margin – crushing the hopes of the Scottish National Party and soothing the fears of the British government of the day. But the issue of Independence continues to divide, and in this special miniseries, George Osborne and Ed Balls are joined by the former First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon to take a

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50:12

John Prescott: The punchy political powerhouse we knew

Political Currency ·

2024/11/21

Former deputy prime minister John Prescott died yesterday at the age of 86. Often described as a ‘political bruiser’, Ed Balls and George Osborne remember Prescott differently: as a policy powerhouse and as a skilled negotiator between Blair and Brown. Does a comparable player exist in today’s Labour government? And, Ed recalls the moment he was involved in a car chase with ‘Two Jags’ himself.With the assisted dying bill facing a second reading next week, the pair consider whether it will pass or be

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35:59

EMQs: Will the government support British farmers?

Political Currency ·

2024/11/18

With incensed British farmers set to descend on London in protest to the government’s new rules on inheritance tax for agricultural property, Ed Balls and George Osborne consider the likelihood of the Treasury reversing course. What made George change his mind on the so-called “pasty tax” in 2012 - and will Rachel Reeves consider a similar u-turn?This past week marked a special anniversary – the day George thought the UK would go to the polls. Should Rishi Sunak have let his run go a little longer

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55:23

Who should be the UK’s ambassador to Trumpworld?

Political Currency ·

2024/11/14

The second era of Trump is a little over a week old, and the president-elect is making waves with his cabinet appointments. An attorney general who has been investigated by the House ethics committee for sexual misconduct allegations (which he vehemently denies)? Welcome, Matt Gaetz. Trump’s pick for defence secretary? Pete Hegseth, a Fox News host who’s a proponent of American-made ammo.George Osborne and Ed Balls consider what the spillover will be for the UK. Will the recently cooked-up Chagos

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37:35

EMQs: Is there a silver lining in Trump?

Political Currency ·

2024/11/11

Donald Trump’s return has provoked days of soul searching among Democratic voters. But the pollster with one of the most accurate predictions of the outcome, James Johnson of JL Partners, has asked George Osborne and Ed Balls to shake off the gloom and consider any positives. Is there a silver lining in a second Trump presidency? George has some ideas, while Ed is struggling…Votebeat editorial director Jessica Huseman asks: does the world see the US as an international example of democracy any more

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59:28

Trump 2.0: The economic fallout

Political Currency ·

2024/11/07

It’s beginning to sink in: Donald Trump 2.0 is now upon us. George Osborne and Ed Balls think seismic shifts in the global economy could be ahead. Could his aggressive trade policies chip away at the UK’s growth plans?Trump has also claimed he could end the Ukraine war in a day. Does that mean a peace deal – or appeasement? Meanwhile Nigel Farage is offering up his services as a British ambassador to Trumpworld. Would despatching Farage to Mar-a-Lago be a relief for Keir Starmer?And the new Tory

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30:39

HOT TAKE: Donald Trump is President

Political Currency ·

2024/11/06

Donald Trump is set to make his return to the White House after a stunning overnight victory against Kamala Harris in the US election, just as George Osborne and Ed Balls predicted. But was this just a simple case of ‘It’s the economy, stupid!’Ed thinks the Harris loss could be a warning to UK’s Labour party members – if they don’t get UK living standards up, could they go the way of the Biden Democrats too? George, meanwhile, thinks Trump’s win exposes a fundamental challenge for the Left that it

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38:50

EMQs: Can you revamp a political image?

Political Currency ·

2024/11/04

Rishi Sunak spoke at his last PMQs. But George Osborne reveals why it may not be the last time we see him in No 10... He and Ed Balls discuss whether perceptions of politicians can ever change.Former cabinet member Caroline Spelman asks if a spoiled ballot is a waste of time. And Laura Trevelyan, co-host of the podcast Heirs of Enslavement asks whether countries should apologise for their role in the transatlantic slave trade.Plus - Love the pod? We thought so. Ed and George clarify whether a

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1:00:27

What did Rachel Reeves’ Budget miss?

Political Currency ·

2024/10/31

The dust has settled on Rachel Reeves’ budget, and despite a strong performance from the Chancellor, George Osborne and Ed Balls have noticed a few glaring omissions. Child poverty? Didn’t really rate a mention. How about some of the New Labour classics like getting people back to work? Pensioners? Nope. So how did this crucial economic pitch to the nation stack up? Ed and George consider how the fallout might impact Labour all the way to the next election.Meanwhile, the polls are telling us the

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36:03

Budget Hot Take: Rachel Reeves’ Tax Raid

Political Currency ·

2024/10/30

Has Rachel Reeves done enough to get away with announcing £40 billion of new taxes? In a special YouTube LIVE episode, Ed Balls and George Osborne give their immediate reaction to the Chancellor's first budget. Was it “big and bold and historic” or a “cross your fingers and hope for the best" moment?Who wins and loses from the budget? And how big a gamble is it for Labour's fortunes?Become a member of POLITICAL CURRENCY GOLD 🏅 to support the podcast, enjoy ad-free listening to all our episodes and

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35:35

EMQs: Budget traditions, Briefings and Brits for Trump

Political Currency ·

2024/10/28

Has the reaction to the Winter Fuel Payment cut scared Labour from making more big budget moves on welfare? And what ever happened to the tradition of the Chancellor knocking back a brandy while delivering the Budget? Ed and George discuss the best drinks of choice when outlining an economic plan to the nation… and what other Treasury traditions are in place.Plus, is it a brief, is it a leak or is it just a plain old trail? The pair breakdown the terms and mull some of the most famous, career-ending

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1:01:59

Who is George Osborne backing for Tory leader?

Political Currency ·

2024/10/24

Drumroll, please. After keeping his cards pretty close to his chest throughout the Tory leadership campaign, George Osborne is ready to name who he thinks should seize the Tory crown. With the race now whittled down to just two people – Kemi Badenoch and Robert Jenrick – George explains why a possible exit from the European Convention on Human Rights has swayed his choice and what might put him off voting Conservative at all... Meanwhile, members of the Labour party are in hot water after Donald

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40:29

EMQs: Can you have friends in politics?

Political Currency ·

2024/10/21

Frenemies George Osborne and Ed Balls talk about great political friendships and rivalries. What was the unspoken understanding between former Prime Minister David Cameron and George that made their allegiance last? And which Conservative friendships were soured by Brexit?They answer the question: Are economists just making it up as they go along? How can Rachel Reeves just change the definition of fiscal rules? And with questions from all over the world this week, Ed and George ponder: should we be

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