Political Currency – Details, episodes & analysis

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 lead to growth and prosperity? And will it appease Leave voters who swung to Labour at the election?

Plus, Ed and George provide their insights from their time inside shadow cabinets, imparting their advice for the next Tory leader on how to return to government as swiftly as possible.

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.

Subscribe now: patreon.com/politicalcurrency or on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/politicalcurrency

Please keep sending us your questions to questions@politicalcurrency.co.uk

Production support: Caillin McDaid

Technical Producer: Will Gibson Smith

Producers: Rosie Stopher and James Shield

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.

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 and receive early access to EMQs.

Subscribe now: patreon.com/politicalcurrency or on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/politicalcurrency

And please keep sending us your questions to questions@politicalcurrency.co.uk

Production support: Caillin McDaid

Technical producer: Will Gibson Smith

Producer: Rosie Stopher

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.

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 and George offer their advice to Reeves - how can she avoid becoming ‘Ms. Austerity Chancellor’?  

Meanwhile the Tories really do need to make up their mind on who they are - and fast. As James Cleverly throws his hat in the ring for the leadership contest, it’s time to decide what conservatism actually means now.

Plus, George convinces Ed to share the truth of his Strictly experience. 

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.

Subscribe now: patreon.com/politicalcurrency or on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/politicalcurrency

Remember to send us your questions to questions@politicalcurrency.co.uk

Assistant Producer: Miriam Hall

Producer: Rosie Stopher

Technical Producer: Will Gibson Smith

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.

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 listening to all our episodes and receive early access to EMQs.

Subscribe now: patreon.com/politicalcurrency or on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/politicalcurrency

Remember to send us your questions to questions@politicalcurrency.co.uk

Assistant Producer: Miriam Hall

Producer: Rosie Stopher

Technical Producer: Mikey Nissenbaum

Executive Producers: Dino Sofos and Ellie Clifford

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 government. George Osborne reveals all about the man who could be VP and suggests he could be taking notes from Keir Starmer’s playbook. Ed Balls isn’t so sure. In fact, he’s pretty horrified by the suggestion altogether… 

Back home, and British politics is positively placid by comparison. The former PM Rishi Sunak is learning the art of being a good loser, and using a bit of humour to get through it all. Labour is making big moves with its foreign policy. What does it tell us about their future plans?

Join POLITICAL CURRENCY GOLD 🏅 to enjoy ad-free listening to all our episodes, receive early access to EMQs.

Subscribe now: patreon.com/politicalcurrency or on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/politicalcurrency

Remember to send us your questions to questions@politicalcurrency.co.uk

Assistant Producer: Miriam Hall

Producer: Rosie Stopher

Technical Producer: Mikey Nissenbaum

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.

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 good or not? 

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 and receive early access to EMQs.

Subscribe now: patreon.com/politicalcurrency or on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/politicalcurrency

Remember to send us your questions to questions@politicalcurrency.co.uk

Assistant Producer: Miriam Hall

Producer: Rosie Stopher

Technical Producer: Mikey Nissenbaum

Executive Producers: Dino Sofos and Ellie Clifford

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 all the people want is some competence around here. 

And, fond memories are flowing of when Ed got the ministerial call up. Apparently Tony Blair took an unorthodox approach….  

You could have been listening to this episode ad-free! 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. Subscribe now: patreon.com/politicalcurrency or on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/politicalcurrency

Remember to send us your questions to questions@politicalcurrency.co.uk

Assistant Producer: Miriam Hall

Producer: Rosie Stopher

Technical Producer: Mikey Nissenbaum

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.

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 approach to the conflict in Gaza. 

And a huge thanks for listening to our Election Extras – we hope you’ve really enjoyed them. 

You could have been listening to this episode EARLY and AD-FREE! Subscribe to  POLITICAL CURRENCY GOLD 🏅 to enjoy ad-free listening to all our episodes and receive early access to EMQs every Friday. 

Get a free trial now: patreon.com/politicalcurrency or on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/politicalcurrency

Producer: Rosie Stopher 

Executive Producers: Dino Sofos and Ellie Clifford

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 will play out for the major parties as they (try to) move forward.

To celebrate the election, we’ll be exclusively answering subscriber questions in our post-result special on Monday 8th July. It’s not too late to have your chance! Join POLITICAL CURRENCY GOLD 🏅 to enjoy ad-free listening to all our episodes, receive early access to EMQs and to listen on Mondays to our brand new ELECTION EXTRAS.  

Subscribe now: patreon.com/politicalcurrency or on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/politicalcurrency

Remember to send us your questions to questions@politicalcurrency.co.uk

Assistant Producer: Miriam Hall

Producer: Rosie Stopher 

Technical Producer: Oliver Geraghty

Executive Producers: Dino Sofos and Ellie Clifford

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 indications. If you’re planning an all-nighter, grab your popcorn and make some notes - you don’t want to be without the Balls election 2024 primer. 

And, if you’ve ever wondered what candidates will be doing for the next 48 hours, Ed and George pull back the curtain on the highs and lows of a life-changing night. 

Credit to Greg Birks for ‘I’m Just Ed’.

To celebrate the election, we’ll be exclusively answering subscriber questions in our post-result special on Monday 8th July. It’s not too late to have your chance! Join POLITICAL CURRENCY GOLD 🏅 to enjoy ad-free listening to all our episodes, receive early access to EMQs and to listen on Mondays to our brand new ELECTION EXTRAS.  

Subscribe now: patreon.com/politicalcurrency or on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/politicalcurrency

Remember to send us your questions to questions@politicalcurrency.co.uk

Producer: Rosie Stopher 

Technical Producer: Will Gibson Smith

Executive Producers: Dino Sofos and Ellie Clifford

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.