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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

55:49

How to plug a £40bn black hole

Political Currency ·

2024/10/17

How can Rachel Reeves solve her £40 billion budget gap without breaking Labour’s manifesto promise? Ed Balls and George Osborne take a deep dive into the tax hikes she has and hasn’t ruled out - and whether she can fairly class raising employer National Insurance contributions as manifesto-friendly.Elsewhere, Labour continues to woo the business community - this time at its International Investment summit. But can an event like this overcome the very real barriers to growth that the UK faces?And,

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31:54

EMQs: Can HS2 be revived from the dead?

Political Currency ·

2024/10/14

The killing of HS2 was one of the defining features of the former government’s final days but there’s now talk the high speed rail line to Manchester might happen after all. Northern Powerhouse Chief Executive Henri Murison asks what Ed Balls and George Osborne make of the chatter that it could be revived, in the form of the so-called ‘HS2 light’.How should we truly define a “pensioner”? Does it just mean someone who is actually receiving a pension, or someone who is of pension earning age? And

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1:02:53

Cleverly: What went wrong?!

Political Currency ·

2024/10/10

James Cleverly has made a stunning exit from the Tory leadership race, leaving Kemi Badenoch and Robert Jenrick as the final two to duke it out. George Osborne and Ed Balls consider if that’s thanks to some cunning political strategising or just a good old-fashioned cock up. Now, of the two who is more likely to take the crown? George thinks Jenrick is more “malleable” – is that what an opposition leader needs to be? Is Badenoch Mrs T(hatcher) or T(russ)?Meanwhile, the lead up to the budget is

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28:28

EMQs: Political regrets? We have a few

Political Currency ·

2024/10/07

Ed Balls and George Osborne consider their biggest political mistakes and their proudest moments in office with a question from former Deputy Prime Minister Therese Coffey. What tax move did George make – against all prevailing advice, mind you – that he remains pleased with to this day? And what would Ed have done differently in the handling of the Baby P tragedy?Speaking of mistakes, some of our attentive listeners have sent in a few corrections for Ed and George to face. In a move unfamiliar to

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55:25

How Labour made a political scandal worse

Political Currency ·

2024/10/03

Keir Starmer has caved and returned thousands of pounds in freebies given to him by a Labour donor, in an attempt to close a rather embarrassing chapter for the government. But has he successfully hosed it down? Ed Balls and George Osborne consider whether it's a textbook case of what not to do when you have a PR snafu on your hands.Meanwhile, tensions are escalating in the Middle East. Is there a risk of the conflict intensifying, or is the situation under control? And what does it mean for the

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40:26

HOT TAKE: James Cleverly: Next Tory leader?

Political Currency ·

2024/10/02

Has the Tory leadership contest just been decided? Our man on the ground George Osborne is reporting directly back to Ed Balls from today’s Conservative Party Conference leadership hustings. Is the crown James Cleverly’s for the taking after a storming speech?Plus, George is joined by Tory watchers-extraordinaire, Michael Gove and Danny Finkelstein, for their post-hustings analysis.Become a member of POLITICAL CURRENCY GOLD 🏅 to support the podcast, enjoy ad-free listening to all our episodes and

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34:28

EMQs: What’s your unpopular opinion?

Political Currency ·

2024/09/30

Ed Balls and George Osborne open up this week on their most ardent, contrarian views. Is reincarnation real? Political reincarnation, perhaps. George shares how his thoughts have moved with the times and how he has reached some fresh conclusions on cannabis – conclusions with which, it turns out, Ed completely disagrees.And, they field questions straight from the Labour party conference. Tips for the new Chief Secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones? Ed and George are happy to oblige. And what do

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1:03:00

Which Tory will get the Boris blessing?

Political Currency ·

2024/09/26

Who’s hungry enough to seize the Tory crown? As the Conservative Party Conference nears, the leadership contest is heating up. Of the four hopefuls, who will get the backing of the party’s elder statesmen Michael Gove and Boris Johnson? George knows who Boris wants as leader, and that person isn’t currently in the race…Labour’s wrapped up its party conference, which was light on announcements and heavy on gloom. Both George Osborne and Ed Balls are wondering why so sad? A trip to the UN seems like a

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34:50

CONFERENCE HOT TAKE: Protestors disrupt Rachel...

Political Currency ·

2024/09/23

Rachel Reeves took to the stage at the Labour Party Conference in a wet and gloomy Liverpool, hoping to brighten her party’s fortunes. After a tumultuous few weeks for the new government with rows over ‘Keir’s gear’, Sue Gray and the Winter Fuel Payment, the new chancellor hoped to prove that after 14 years of the Tories, Labour were all set to deliver a bright new future. But it was a speech that was heavy on rhetoric, light on policy and disrupted by a pro-Palestine protestor.Has she done enough

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38:03

EMQs: How to give a GREAT conference speech

Political Currency ·

2024/09/22

Rachel Reeves takes to the Labour party conference stage today, but hopefully not before she has chance to listen to Ed Balls and George Osborne’s sage advice on how to give a great conference speech. We take a stroll down memory lane and reflect on some of the most rousing speeches in British party conference political history – from the funny to the formative.Which MPs have tattoos? Ed and George list out the candidates most likely, bu have either of them got a decorative dolphin or butterfly

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54:11

Starmer’s big Sue Gray problem

Political Currency ·

2024/09/19

As Labour feels the heat over Keir Starmer’s freebies scandal, there's a sense of glee in Tory party circles now the "holier-than-thou" party has something of a mess to clean up. Ed Balls and George Osborne mull how the government can reset their image, especially now the Sue Gray pay row is also threatening to rain on Starmer's conference parade ....Across the benches they reflect on the celebratory Liberal Democrat conference and whether the party has finally gotten over Nick Clegg. Could they be

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28:41

EMQs: Media spin, middle classes and memories of...

Political Currency ·

2024/09/16

Are eloquent middle class people hogging valuable public service resources? Ed Balls and George Osborne debate the case for co-payments to ease the burden. How can both Ed and George be correct on their analyses of the 2010 financial situation? And why do politicians continue to trot out their media spin lines when it’s clear to everyone that they’re not answering the question?Plus, Ed and George share their favourite conference memories as party conferences get underway.You could have been

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52:21

Can Starmer really fix the NHS?

Political Currency ·

2024/09/12

The NHS must “reform or die”, says Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Is he channelling his “inner Tony Blair” in a gutsy move on our health service or is this another policy which will end in controversy, much like the winter fuel allowance or early prison releases?Across the pond, the US Presidential TV debate gave Kamala Harris an edge as she took on Donald Trump for the first time. But perhaps even more of a win was Taylor Swift’s endorsement, which soon followed. But do celebrity supporters make any

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35:57

EMQs: Should you pay if you miss an NHS appointment?

Political Currency ·

2024/09/09

Booking an appointment with your GP can feel harder than getting your hands on Oasis tickets. So should those who miss their slots be made to pay? Would it create a barrier to entry for vulnerable people in society, or could it open the door to millions more people who are sick of getting stuck in the queue?Ed and George also bring you inside the world of becoming an MP and they top up their summer reading list with some international big-hitters.Plus - now back from holiday - Ed reveals whether he

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51:07

Will Rachel Reeves be forced to U-turn on winter fuel...

Political Currency ·

2024/09/05

Ed and George are reunited to mull over whether Rachel Reeves should make a U-turn on the winter fuel payment furore. Is there an "escape route" she can take?And they examine the government’s decision to suspend some arms shipments to Israel. Was it really “a legal decision, not a policy decision”, as the PM has claimed?Finally, we ask whether central bankers deserve the credit for falling inflation – or if they simply got lucky. And Ed and George issue a mea culpa for some slightly inaccurate

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31:07

Summer EMQs: Where are all the great parliamentary...

Political Currency ·

2024/09/02

Where are all the great parliamentary speakers like Gordon Brown, Robin Cook, and William Hague? Ed Balls and George Osborne reflect on fond memories within the chambers like Cook’s resignation. Will the Tory leadership contest bring in any new contenders?Plus, what determines seating order in commons? Can live fact checking during PMQs work? What actually is a three line whip? And how risky is it to defy one?Please keep sending us your questions to questions@politicalcurrency.co.ukYou could have

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59:37

Osbornomics, Oasis, and Opposition

Political Currency ·

2024/08/29

The summer holidays are over, if Keir Starmer’s speech this week was anything to go by. Is he stepping into Osbornomics strike two? Whilst Ed Balls is still on holiday, George Osborne is joined by Chief Executive of Labour Together, Jonathan Ashworth, to reveal what’s going on behind the scenes as the government returns to Westminster.In a quick turnaround, Starmer was next spotted in Germany, resetting relations in Europe. Is there merit to seeking bilateral relations with EU countries? Will this

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31:32

Summer EMQs: Who really runs the country?

Political Currency ·

2024/08/26

Are the civil service the real brains behind the government? What role does a Chief of Staff play? And what on earth do government ministers do all day? Ed Balls and George Osborne are tackling your questions on the ins-and-outs of the daily grind of running the country - from official residences to avoiding gimmicks.You could have been listening to this episode of EMQs early and ad-free!Become a member of POLITICAL CURRENCY GOLD 🏅 to support the podcast, enjoy ad-free listening to all our episodes

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1:00:49

Are the Democrats celebrating too soon?

Political Currency ·

2024/08/22

The Democratic National Convention is underway in Chicago with jubilant scenes. Fortunately for us - while Ed Balls is on holiday - George Osborne has persuaded former shadow Paymaster General Jonathan Ashworth to be Political Currency’s eyes and ears on the ground as Kamala Harris looks to become the Democratic Party’s formal presidential nominee. But are spirits just a little too high for what is shaping up to be a very closely fought race? And have the Dems been taking notes from the Labour

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35:32

Summer EMQs: Was Austerity a Mistake?

Political Currency ·

2024/08/19

Should Labour have defended themselves better against the Tory claim that they’d caused the 2010 UK financial position? Ed Balls and George Osborne go head-to-head on who was to blame, and whether austerity was the answer in this special fiscal policy-themed edition of EMQs.It’s not all debate though - Ed and George explain the concept of ‘running out of money’, and how much of a previous government’s economic policy is required to make its way into a new term.Please keep sending us your questions

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