Political Currency

The shocking killing of Ann Widdecombe has set a sombre tone in British politics in the last week. Ed Balls and George Osborne delve into the political implications of this tragedy, examining the changing police messaging and debating what the solution for protecting politicians should be. They also share memories of Widdecombe, who they both worked with throughout the years.

‘The King of North’ (Andy Burnham) is set to enter Downing Street on Monday, after receiving the backing of over 90% of Labour MPs. But what is he going to do? The unknowns of the incoming Burnham premiership has resulted in breathless speculation hitting a fever pitch. George argues Burnham is focusing too much on the past in his messaging and must look to the future, while Ed cautions that Burnham should not assume he will be popular in the country off the bat.

As Keir Starmer’s time in No. 10 comes to an end, and Rachel Reeves time in No. 11 is likely to follow suit, the pair reflect on their political legacies and obituaries. They deliver a harsh sentence on their reigns, explaining why they were stuck in a doom loop the last two years, and how it speaks to wider problems in Britain in the last 10 years.

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
Production: Caillin McDaid & Nasreen Arain
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.

Hot off Centrist Dad’s sellout show last week, two listeners at the gig have sent in questions. Our Kitchen Cabinet winner, Douglas Law, asks a question on the mind of every junior Labour MP right now: will Burnham promote them? Ed Balls and George Osborne explain what ministers must do to secure a promotion in government, and what Burnham will look for.

Then, they answer a question that has plagued every recent government: can you end the triple lock? Despite its salience amongst some, George argues why it is neither politically or fiscally sensible to do so. Ed more or less agrees, though proposes a possible path to reducing the burden on public finances.

Former Olympic gold medalist, and mind behind the Bee Network, Chris Boardman then asks how the work in Manchester and across devolved administrations can be scaled in order to replicate things like the Bee Network. The pair explain why Chris and Andy Burnham’s work was successful, and how cross-party collaboration is key for long-term viability.

Finally, they look at the perks received by former PMs. As Keir Starmer becomes the ninth living ex-prime minister, and with Burnham eventually taking it to ten, many wonder if the expense paid to these leaders is becoming too much of a strain. George explains why they were brought in to begin with, and why they can still prove beneficial long after each person has left Downing Street.

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
Production: Caillin McDaid
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.

The Nigel Farage donation scandal reached a breaking point on Tuesday when he took the extreme step of triggering his own by-election. But was this a shrewd move or has it backfired? Ed Balls and George Osborne examine the risks to Reform, how Kemi Badenoch may use it to her advantage, and whether Count Binface could really be Clacton’s next MP.

While some see Farage as future PM, the next man set to lead the country remains Andy Burnham. With nominations opening for Labour leader today, and no other candidate in the race, it’s all set to be a coronation. But is this a good thing? George’s Labour sources have all voiced anxieties about the lack of scrutiny on Burnham, while Ed counters that a heated contest could have boxed in the next Labour leader.

And finally, Ed explains his latest Harvard-Kings paper on regional growth, which details where Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves went wrong and how Andy Burnham can move the country forwards. Last night, he was at a talk discussing the paper with Michael Gove and Angela Rayner, and the former Tory MP made a surprising endorsement for the ex-deputy PM…

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
Production: Caillin McDaid
Video Editor: Louis Norris
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.

The proposed holiday tax from the King’s speech is a subject of controversy in the hospitality sector, and on this week’s EMQs Ed Balls and George Osborne speak to these concerns. Does this drive away tourism? Or, can they follow in the footsteps of other European cities and help inject funding into these destinations through the extra cashflow?

Then, they delve into the lack of employment rights for ministers. They explain why discrimination laws don’t apply to heads of office and debate the possible route if a minister was harassed at work and wanted to take it further.

A question to Ed takes us back to his trip to the playground with Andy Burnham. One listener asks how might the incoming PM revive New Labour-era play strategies and support for children and families?

Another listener spotted Ed at the opera last week and wonders how politicians can increase support for the arts without perpetuating class divisions or stereotypes.

Finally, the pair are put to a test when a listener sends ChatGPT’s assessment of who would come out on top in a 10-pin bowling game. They debate the outcome, but agree the answer demonstrates the striking advancements in tone and humour of these AI language models.

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
Production: Caillin McDaid & Nasreen Arain
Video Editor: Louis Norris
Executive Producer: Ellie Clifford & 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.

Andy Burnham is now prime minister-in-waiting and is laying out his vision for Britain. On Monday he outlined his approach to the economy, but is his vision any different to Keir Starmer’s? Ed Balls and George Osborne worry the speech lacks a theory of change, and sets him up for the same troubles Starmer faced. George puts forward the two key challenges Burnham will face: defence and communication. Starmer’s Defence Investment Plan leaves a £5bn gap and stray briefings are confusing Burnham’s messaging. If he can’t get on top of these, is he destined to fail as Starmer has?

The primary policy laid out in Burnham’s speech was a No. 10 in the North, based in Manchester. But this plan comes with risks. Ed worries this could lead to increased divisions between No. 10 and the Treasury, which will kneecap the government’s agenda. George feels these changes are too radical mid-Parliament, and distract from policy.

And finally, this Saturday marks the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence and, to mark this historic milestone, Ed and George reflect on the country’s history. They look at the founding fathers, their own relationship with the country, and what future relations will look like with the UK under Burnham.

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
Production: Caillin McDaid & Nasreen Arain
Video Editor: Louis Norris
Executive Producer: Ellie Clifford & 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.