Political Currency

In the first of our summer interviews, Ed Balls sits down with Kemi Badenoch, leader of Conservative Party and Leader of the Opposition. The wide ranging interview begins with her Nigerian upbringing, coming to the UK at 16, and how that informs her immigration policy.

Badenoch also details just how different her Conservative party is from not only Labour and Reform, but also the party that lost the 2024 election. How has watching the fall of four Tory prime ministers shaped her leadership? And how does it stand apart from the ‘victim mentality of Farage and the left?

She goes on to explain why the last Tory government didn’t grip the grooming gang issue, the build up to sacking Robert Jenrick, and her strategy to bring the Conservatives back to power at the next election.

We love hearing from you, so please don’t forget to send all your EMQs to questions@politicalcurrency and make sure to include a voice note of your question or send a question to our social media handles:

👉 X
👉 Instagram
👉 TikTok

Thanks for listening. To get episodes early and ad- free join Political Currency Gold or our Kitchen Cabinet. If you want even more perks including our exclusive newsletter, join our Kitchen Cabinet today:

👉 patreon.com/politicalcurrency
👉 Apple Podcasts

Please note: Kitchen Cabinet is only available via Patreon.

Credits:

Production: Sam Burton
Producer: Caillin McDaid
Video Editor: Oliver Geraghty
Executive Producer: Henrietta Harrison

Political Currency is a Persephonica Production and is part of the Acast Creator Network.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Grimsby MP Melanie Onn sends in a question for this week's EMQs, querying why George went straight to Grimsby as a challenge for devolution in a recent episode. The pair delve into challenges facing Andy Burnham’s devolution agenda, and how past governments have failed and succeeded in addressing these disparities.

A listener then poses a question: is Britain lazier than other countries? And, is that stalling our growth? George and Ed compare our outlook to work in comparison to superpowers like China or the US, as well as our European counterparts. George even tells a story of a pre-president Macron.

They reminisce on Labour’s final shadow cabinet elections, and the heavyweights elected, their biggest sliding door moments, and why the left seemingly has a monopoly on climate issues.

Look forward to our summer interviews beginning on Thursday, where Ed speaks to Tory leader Kemi Badenoch, and even asks her about climate issues. Look forward to more interviews throughout August, as well as special themed EMQs.

We love hearing from you, so please don’t forget to send all your EMQs to questions@politicalcurrency and make sure to include a voice note of your question or send a question to our social media handles:

👉 X
👉 Instagram
👉 TikTok

Thanks for listening. To get episodes early and ad- free join Political Currency Gold or our Kitchen Cabinet. If you want even more perks including our exclusive newsletter, join our Kitchen Cabinet today:

👉 patreon.com/politicalcurrency
👉 Apple Podcasts

Please note: Kitchen Cabinet is only available via Patreon.

Credits:

Production: Sam Burton & Nasreen Arain
Producer: Caillin McDaid
Video Editor: Sam Gruet
Executive Producer: Henrietta Harrison

Political Currency is a Persephonica Production and is part of the Acast Creator Network.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Week two of the Andy Burnham premiership has come with a honeymoon and polling bounce. Ed Balls and George Osborne look at how he’s returned to a more collaborative approach with his cabinet, and the comms strategy which has seen pork scratchings become an international talking point. But what bigger political strategy is Burnham building? Despite protestations, is he still weighing up a General Election while his opponents are down?

George felt many of Burnham’s initial policies were ‘small beer’ and lacked a big feeling. That wasn't the case this week with massive reforms to education and social care brought forward by the PM. But can they succeed? Both have been issues for successive governments, yet never solved. They caution that social care will be difficult to build without a strong narrative, and true cross-party consensus.

Finally, as always, the buck still stops with the US. With new Fed Chair Kevin Warsh announcing no change to interest rates yesterday, it raises the question on how much the cost of living can improve in the US or UK. It also calls into question just what kind of Fed chair Warsh will be. Is he going to be too dovish? Or will he live up to his previous rhetoric?

We love hearing from you, so please don’t forget to send all your EMQs to questions@politicalcurrency and make sure to include a voice note of your question or send a question to our social media handles:

👉 X
👉 Instagram
👉 TikTok

Thanks for listening. To get episodes early and ad- free join Political Currency Gold or our Kitchen Cabinet. If you want even more perks including our exclusive newsletter, join our Kitchen Cabinet today:

👉 patreon.com/politicalcurrency
👉 Apple Podcasts

Please note: Kitchen Cabinet is only available via Patreon.

Credits:

Production: Sam Burton & Nasreen Arain
Producer: Caillin McDaid
Video Editor: Sam Gruet
Executive Producer: Henrietta Harrison

Political Currency is a Persephonica Production and is part of the Acast Creator Network.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard is our first questioner on this week’s EMQs, asking whether other MPs will follow in Andy Burnham’s footsteps and leave Westminster to become mayors. Ed Balls and George Osborne speak about the career opportunities that could come with these positions and how they can uniquely prepare you for No. 10 more than any cabinet role can.

A civil servant then enquires why Burnham’s reshuffle took so long, and what MPs are thinking during the tense hours that follow one. Ed recounts his own anxiety when first entering government, while George explains the complications in moving ministers who are not keen for new jobs and how governments stop the house of cards from toppling.

They also give advice on how to pick the right college at Oxford, recalling their own time at school. The pair then reflect on the behind the scenes debates that led to the vote for equal marriage in 2013, with George venting long held frustrations at some MPs for their opposition...

We love hearing from you, so please don’t forget to send all your EMQs to questions@politicalcurrency and make sure to include a voice note of your question or send a question to our social media handles:

👉 X
👉 Instagram
👉 TikTok

Thanks for listening. To get episodes early and ad- free join Political Currency Gold or our Kitchen Cabinet. If you want even more perks including our exclusive newsletter, join our Kitchen Cabinet today:

👉 patreon.com/politicalcurrency
👉 Apple Podcasts

Please note: Kitchen Cabinet is only available via Patreon.

Credits:

Research: Sam Burton
Producer: Caillin McDaid
Video Editor: Sam Gruet
Executive Producer: Henrietta Harrison

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 new dawn has broken, with the Andy Burnham premiership finally beginning. Ed Balls and George Osborne dive deep into the packed first week of PM Burnham, from his first words at Downing Street, to his massive reshuffle, and initial policy announcements. Is he being too ambitious out of the gate? Can he do politics differently? Will this really be a circuit breaker for Britain?

The big surprise of Burnham’s cabinet is also the biggest role: Chancellor John Healey. Why did he go for the ex-defence secretary rather than presumed frontrunners Ed Miliband or Shabana Mahmood? Ed and George recall their own memories of Healey to assess whether he will be a creature of the Treasury or make the Treasury his creature. They also speculate whether these initial announcements could lay the groundwork for an Autumn election…

Finally, despite the best efforts of the new PM and chancellor, global conflicts will determine what they can do. With the situation in Iran heating up once more, how will Burnham respond to foreign dilemmas? Is appointing Ed Miliband a canny move or will it spark new conflict with the Trump White House?

We love hearing from you, so please don’t forget to send all your EMQs to questions@politicalcurrency and make sure to include a voice note of your question or send a question to our social media handles:

👉 X
👉 Instagram
👉 TikTok

Thanks for listening. To get episodes early and ad- free join Political Currency Gold or our Kitchen Cabinet. If you want even more perks including our exclusive newsletter, join our Kitchen Cabinet today:

👉 patreon.com/politicalcurrency
👉 Apple Podcasts

Please note: Kitchen Cabinet is only available via Patreon.

Credits:

Research: Sam Burton
Producer: Caillin McDaid
Video Editor: Sam Gruet
Executive Producer: Henrietta Harrison

Political Currency is a Persephonica Production and is part of the Acast Creator Network.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.