x

75% of people globally want unbiased news (Pew Research) but are concerned they're not getting that.

Get balanced coverage with Symby. See how stories are covered across diverse outlets and spot when one side covers a story the other skips.

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

news politics

All Episodes

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

en

57:52

The secret to launching a political career

Political Currency ·

2024/08/15

It’s results day and while students across the country celebrate their A-levels, BTEC and T-levels, university funding has come back into the limelight. And what’s better than one former education minister? Two!Gillian Keegan is sitting in for George this week, and she and Ed Balls consider the best course of action to make the education sector pay for itself.Plus, Gillian makes her case for more business people in Parliament. Would they really drive more growth than career politicians with PPE

en

26:45

Summer EMQs: The Political Currency constituency

Political Currency ·

2024/08/12

Ed Balls and George Osborne answer questions from the EMQs archive - this week, an insider’s guide to a life political. Is a u-turn ever the right thing to do? How does the Prime Minister know whose question to answer at a press conference? And is it fair to say that all politicians are just in it for themselves?Plus, Ed makes his predictions for the next shock-exit politician to follow in his and Michael Portillo’s steps as a media personality, and we ponder what our Political Currency constituency

en

59:16

Should the Tories stop chasing Reform voters?

Political Currency ·

2024/08/08

Britain braced itself for widespread rioting and anti-immigration demonstrations, with shops boarding up their storefronts and commuters told to take care on their way home. Instead, a pushback from counter protestors and a heavy police presence largely quelled any violence. Ed Balls and Grant Shapps – who is in the seat for George Osborne – consider how Keir Starmer has handled the situation. Grant gives his honest opinion on how all his previous leaders handled their own crises – from the best all

en

35:56

EMQs: Summer Recess Buddies

Political Currency ·

2024/08/05

Ed and George are going on a summer holiday… and Ed’s GMB co-host Ranvir Singh wonders, if they had to take a trip with a member of the opposition, who would it be? Whoever Ed chooses will have an interesting outfit to look forward to, as he reveals his holiday get-up to a somewhat stunned George.We’ve had a question from another member of gazebo man’s family - and this time, his dad wants to know, should Covid business loans be written off? Ed and George also tackle food VAT, Rishi Sunak’s

en

57:05

Rachel Reeves: The next austerity chancellor?

Political Currency ·

2024/08/01

In the wake of the tragic events this week in Southport, and the eruption of riots that followed, Ed Balls and George Osborne consider how MPs should confront violence and disinformation – all while keeping to the rules. George wonders if courts should update reporting restrictions in a social media age, while Ed cautions that no politician ever wants to jeopardise a criminal trial. George is clear on one thing, though – the political establishment needs to take a firmer hand in dealing with Nigel

en

32:27

EMQs: Celebs go politicking

Political Currency ·

2024/07/29

Could we see celebrities swapping the silver screen, football pitch or concert stage for the hallowed halls of Westminster? Ed Balls and George Osborne recall stars who have previously made the switch – does anybody ever really pull it off?And, our hosts have got Paris 2024 fever as they look back on their favourite Olympic moments from London 2012. As athletes prepare to compete on the world stage, what are the best lessons or policies the UK has learnt from overseas?Plus, will inflation go down

en

58:07

Starmer, Strictly and Summer of Brat

Political Currency ·

2024/07/24

The world is braced for a brat summer as Kamala Harris steps in for Joe Biden as the Democratic presidential candidate - George Osborne and Ed Balls consider whether the fevered KHive reaction spells success, or simply masks the very real challenge ahead.In Labour land, Rachel Reeves is preparing her statement on the fiscal reality the government faces, all in the shadow of seven Labour MPs losing the whip over George’s two-child benefit cap. Was Keir Starmer right to cast off the rebels? And, Ed

en

36:36

EMQs: Are you ready for ID cards?

Political Currency ·

2024/07/22

How important is it to have a leader who ‘turns you on”? Are ID cards essential in a new world of AI and deep fakes, or are they a waste of government time and money? And should you be made to vote?Plus, if you’ve got a speech to deliver in the near future, Ed Balls and George Osborne give their best guide to public speaking. You’re welcome.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

en

54:03

Meet JD Vance, Trump’s VP and George Osborne’s friend

Political Currency ·

2024/07/18

It was a bonkers week for American politics, on both sides. Team Trump went from an assassination attempt in Pennsylvania to a fiery convention in Wisconsin. Biden’s camp had NATO, fresh calls for him to drop out of the race and a Covid diagnosis to round it off, all in a matter of days.And amongst it all, a fresh political operative came into the limelight: Donald Trump’s newly-named running mate JD Vance. Turns out, he’s an old friend of George’s and a long-time fan of the former Cameron-Osborne

en

30:16

EMQs: Political Football

Political Currency ·

2024/07/15

As England heads to the final of Euro 2024 - are the politicians who claim to love the beautiful game faking it for political gain?We’ve seen Keir Starmer’s new ministerial appointments - but what on earth do all these snappily named secretaries, under-secretaries, and private secretaries actually do? If there’s one thing Ed Balls and George Osborne love, it’s a deep dive into the inner workings of government, so politics nerds: Roll up, roll up.And how can voters gauge whether their new MP is any

en

1:01:35

Inside the race to lead the Tory party

Political Currency ·

2024/07/11

While Keir Starmer gets on with the business of naming ministers and settling in at Number 10, the Tories are picking up the pieces of their shattered party and considering the best person to turn the ship around. So who is the new Rishi? Is it Kemi, Suella, Priti? Whoever gets the top job needs to be a healer, George says, and not a warrior.Meanwhile, winning a campaign is one thing, staying in government is another. Ed and George think Labour is in danger of lurching into technocrat territory when

en

43:40

Will Starmer’s 'GOAT' cabinet succeed?

Political Currency ·

2024/07/08

A brand new cohort of MPs have descended on Westminster today and with them comes a flurry of policy announcements. What does Keir Starmer’s cabinet say about the kind of Prime Minister he wants to be? And might he regret some of the very ambitious changes his ministers are making?The last Labour government was defined by foreign policy. So what are the big forces which could shape the future of Keir Starmer’s government? Ed and George talk about the shock result in France, as well as Starmer’s

en

45:11

Inside Starmer’s No. 10

Political Currency ·

2024/07/05

A new dawn, a new day, and a new government. Not quite Blair ‘97, Ed Balls and George give us the inside track on exactly how things are playing out inside No. 10 Downing Street right now. From cabinet appointments to civil servants, this is the guide you need.But Keir Starmer’s landslide is just one half of the story today - the Tory and SNP downfall and the rise of Reform tell their own tales. Ed and George share their most standout moments of the past 24 hours and give their takes on how this

en

50:21

What REALLY happens on polling day?

Political Currency ·

2024/07/03

They think it’s all over… it is now! No really, that’s the actual line from the Conservative party as they send out the hardest worker of this campaign, Mel Stride, to concede a full 24 hours before voters go to the polls. Ed Balls and George Osborne question whether the move will just serve to put even more potential Tory voters off.The winner might be considered a foregone conclusion at this stage - but the details are far from it, and Ed’s been swotting up on the ones to watch for early

en

39:24

Can Starmer work with Trump and Le Pen?

Political Currency ·

2024/07/02

T-3 days until polls open and if England’s efforts in the Euros are anything to go by, there’s no predicting what could happen between now and then… at least, that seems to be what Rishi Sunak is hoping. Ed Balls and George Osborne aren’t so sure. As final Party Political Broadcasts go out and an ever-more-desperate message comes from Tory HQ, is it time to call Sunak’s early election a failure?And as electoral activity kicks off in France, and debates begin in the US, what does the International

en

30:21

EMQs: Is Rishi California Dreamin’?

Political Currency ·

2024/06/30

Is Rishi Sunak California dreamin’ of a post-PM life? Or are the rolling hills of Yorkshire calling him to stick around? Ed Balls and George Osborne ponder what the Prime Minister will do next if he loses his premiership next week. How can good polling change an election outcome? And what does the cost of living crisis actually mean?Plus, they give their best advice for making it through the election all-nighter. And has anybody seen Ed Miliband?Assistant Producer: Miriam HallProducer: Rosie

en

1:00:43

Is Labour's honeymoon already over?

Political Currency ·

2024/06/27

The final week of election campaigning is here! Keir Starmer hasn't even measured up for curtains in Downing Street yet, but the attention is already turning to the headaches he will face in government. After a wobbly final debate performance against Rishi Sunak, Ed Balls wonders if the Labour leader can ever go for the jugular when it counts.Then there's the markets. Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves might have high hopes for their policies, but where will the money come from? George Osborne thinks

en

40:24

ELECTION EXTRA: Farage’s Russian gambit

Political Currency ·

2024/06/25

With the general election in sight, has Nigel Farage made a campaign misstep? His claim that the west provoked the Russian invasion of Ukraine has been met with international indignation – but will it have any on his polling?And as we enter the final 10 days of campaigning, things aren’t looking great over at Conservative HQ – has Rishi Sunak accepted his party’s dismal fate? The Tory leader appears to be switching to a strategy of damage control, but it’s unclear if it will be enough to entice

en

38:01

EMQs: Political porkies and party people

Political Currency ·

2024/06/23

Will shy Tories (or Reform UK-ers) deny Keir Starmer his landslide? If not, who should the Conservatives install as leader to provide stability – perhaps somebody with international and domestic credibility... say ... David Cameron?Plus, does your postal vote count if you die before the big day? And, who would you invite to your ultimate political party? Please make sure you’ve got your karaoke song at the ready.You could have been listening to this episode of EMQs early and ad-free! Become a member

en

185 results

Similar Podcasts

Expres Ráno

Expres FM

PBS News Hour - Full Show

PBS News

CD Voice

China Daily

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report

Noa Levi

Jeffrey Epstein: The Coverup Chronicles

Bobby Capucci