Rishi Sunak is facing dismal polling and Nigel Farage out on manouevers. In our first Election Hot Take, George Osborne reveals the sense of resignation that has set in among Tory MPs. Is the only thing that can save the Tories now a massive policy play? George thinks they may be working something up on inheritance tax. Meanwhile in Labourland, the fall out from the Diane Abbott saga continues. Angela Rayner has stepped in to defend her, opening the door for the long-time Hackney MP to stand aga...
Jun 04, 2024•24 min•Ep 63•Transcript available on Metacast Gimmicks and gaffes have been a feature of the first week of the election campaign. Inspired by Ed Davey’s attempt to raise awareness of river pollution by falling off a paddleboard – multiple times – George and Ed reflect on the nation’s (and their own) cringiest political stunts. And George finally reveals all – how did he end up doing the ultimate Tory power stance? It’s not just PR moves though, policy debate is in full swing. Ed and George disagree on Labour’s planned tax ...
Jun 03, 2024•33 min•Ep 62•Transcript available on Metacast After a faltering start in the rain, Rishi Sunak’s campaign seems to be gaining momentum. Is it enough to prove he was right to gamble on a snap election? While it might not all be plain sailing for the Conservatives, things have certainly been looking up as trouble brews in the Labour Party. Ed Balls thinks Keir Starmer's handling of Diane’s Abbott’s candidacy has been a “terrible mess”. Could it have real ramifications for his hopes at the polls? But elsewhere George Osborne thinks...
May 30, 2024•55 min•Ep 61•Transcript available on Metacast Ed Balls and George Osborne have election fever and won’t be stopped from answering your EMQs. How did George get the election date so wrong? Is the public too despondent with the state of politics to bother voting at all? And could the Liberal Democrats stun us all to become a credible opposition? Plus, George reveals what he thinks the Tories’ attack line on Keir Starmer will be, and Ed tries to nail him down on just who the incompetent junior minister in his treasury was… You could have...
May 27, 2024•30 min•Ep 60•Transcript available on Metacast A snap election! Not quite George Osborne’s prediction of 14th November, Ed Balls is struggling to understand the logic that led Rishi Sunak to surprise, well, literally everybody with 4th July as the date of the next general election. Are good inflation numbers really enough to see the Conservatives to a better result than the formerly predicted disaster? George reveals Number 10’s thinking. As the battle is drawn, Ed and George discuss the seats to watch and the issues on the table - and...
May 23, 2024•56 min•Ep 59•Transcript available on Metacast Why doesn’t Bristol have a mayor anymore? What do treasury officials actually do? And is there a reason we’re losing so many bright young tech experts to the West Coast of America? Plus, author Will Hutton wants to know if Ed Balls and George Osborne will take responsibility for their involvement in the economic crises of the twenty-first century, and in a podcast crossover, Sascha O’Sullivan of POLITICO’s Westminster Insider wants to know if we should be trying to find silver linings in Truss’s...
May 20, 2024•36 min•Ep 58•Transcript available on Metacast Keir Starmer, poster boy. The Labour leader’s new pledge card is here, with six key policies and a black and white photoshoot to woo the public. Is it all a bit retro? Well that depends who you ask: George Osborne would prefer a new approach, whereas Ed Balls reckons some solid Labour '97 nostalgia might just be what the party needs. Meanwhile, Labour’s shadow foreign secretary David Lammy is working hard to get himself out there on the world stage - and back in the good books of a certain forme...
May 16, 2024•58 min•Ep 57•Transcript available on Metacast Ed Balls and George Osborne are pleased to have been asked for book recommendations. Is this the start of a book club to compete with the likes of Richard and Judy? If so, George is bagsying his role in the duo now - and no, it’s not Richard. MP Greg Clark asks about the future of local mayoralties, and Sunday Times interviewer Decca Aitkenhead wants to know whether George is doing anything about his, ahem, selective memory. Plus, what on earth did the Cameron government see in Liz Truss a...
May 13, 2024•37 min•Ep 56•Transcript available on Metacast Rishi Sunak lives to fight another day after some terrible local election results. But as he loses yet another MP to Labour, Ed Balls and George Osborne ask whether it might be time to play a new strategy and try acting the underdog. Meanwhile, whilst Labour had a markedly better weekend, it didn’t quite indicate the 1997-style landslide they might be hoping for in the next general election. Is Keir Starmer on track for a small majority? And if so, how should he manage it? And in foreign affairs...
May 08, 2024•1 hr 6 min•Ep 55•Transcript available on Metacast It’s polling day. Ed Balls and George Osborne give their expert analysis on the importance of local elections: what contests do you need to look out for? And what do they reveal about Rishi Sunak’s political fortunes? Across the border, the Scottish National Party is in turmoil after First Minister Humza Yousaf resigned. Could this open the door to a Labour resurgence in Scotland? Speaking of, the person hoping to lead that resurgence is Keir Starmer. But how well do we really know the man hopin...
May 02, 2024•1 hr•Ep 54•Transcript available on Metacast It’s the most auspicious day of the year: Ed Balls Day. To celebrate, George has got his Ed Balls mask out (not a euphemism), and is ready to go Inside the Room. Just kidding. But he has in fact organised some questions from Ed’s nearest and not-so dearest. Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves asks about Ed’s favourite Gregg’s order. Bandmate and Political Journalist Robert Peston wants to know why regulation of public services has gone so badly wrong, and Ed’s successor in his Morley and Outwo...
Apr 28, 2024•39 min•Ep 53•Transcript available on Metacast After two years, Rishi Sunak can finally celebrate a Rwanda victory as his bill passes in parliament - but Ed Balls and George Osborne can’t help noticing it’s been somewhat overshadowed by an announcement on defence spending. Is the government playing with fudged figures? And is it even worthwhile as far as voters are concerned? St George’s Day saw an unexpected new poster boy this week - and no, it’s not George, much to his chagrin. Keir Starmer is embracing his patriotic side. Ed and George w...
Apr 25, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Ep 52•Transcript available on Metacast Is the role of a PPS more than just a ‘bag carrier’ and when has it gone wrong? If Ed and George could have a cardboard cut out of any politician who would it be? And BBC Radio 4’s Amol Rajan asks Ed about Joe Biden’s stammer. Should the American President talk more openly about his speech impediment? Plus, is the rise of the smartphone to blame for us all being less productive? And should 16 and 17 year olds have been allowed to vote in the Brexit referendum? Become a member of POLI...
Apr 22, 2024•38 min•Ep 51•Transcript available on Metacast It should have finally been a bumper week for Rishi Sunak - with inflation down, a win for his smoking ban and with success on his Rwanda legislation within sight. But instead, would-be Tory leaders have been hogging the limelight. Liz Truss is back with a vengeance. Could her ‘Trump-style’ return to form see her reinstated as head of the party? Or is it Kemi Badenoch’s time to shine? Why has her stance on the smoking ban been rubbing her colleagues up the wrong way? And as we head towards...
Apr 17, 2024•1 hr•Ep 50•Transcript available on Metacast Ed Balls and George Osborne were Inside the Room with Michael Gove last week to deep dive into the Brexit plots - and now they’re facing your questions on the moment that changed British politics forever. What happened to all the voters the EU referendum coaxed out of the woodwork? Are women ignored in the retelling of those tumultuous days of 2016? And what can historical parallels tell us about the inevitability of rejoining? Plus, GB News’ Chris Hope asks why George and David Cameron di...
Apr 15, 2024•38 min•Ep 49•Transcript available on Metacast Another week, another scandal surrounding the Conservatives. But this time of the honey trapping variety. Ed and George discuss the dating app scam that has ensnared at least one MP. Meanwhile, Labour is having a difficult time stamping out persistent claims the party’s Deputy Leader Angela Rayner dodged tax on a house sale. George says if she stumbles, all the Conservatives want to see her fall. He predicts there will be more to come. And David Cameron is back on the world stage, me...
Apr 11, 2024•1 hr•Ep 48•Transcript available on Metacast The result is in, and in the words of David Dimbleby, ‘we’re out’. But whilst the Brexit referendum draws a line under the campaign period, it sets the stage for chaos in the lives of our insiders. In this final episode of 'Inside the Room: The Brexit Plots', Ed Balls and George Osborne grill Michael Gove on the Conservative leadership contest that followed David Cameron’s resignation, and what (or who) persuaded him to commit one of the great political betrayals of recent years. Become a member...
Apr 10, 2024•48 min•Ep 47•Transcript available on Metacast As the Leave and Remain campaigns get underway, it seems that the Remain camp has a clear lead. That is, until it doesn’t. In this second instalment of Inside the Room: The Brexit Plot, Michael Gove, Ed Balls and George Osborne take us behind the scenes of the ever-more-panicked campaign HQs as polling day draws in. Part 3 of 'Inside The Room: The Brexit Plots' is exclusively available to listen to now for subscribers to POLITICAL CURRENCY GOLD 🏅 Become a member of Political Currency Gold...
Apr 08, 2024•42 min•Ep 46•Transcript available on Metacast Brexit was the issue that splintered British politics: Friendships were broken, political parties split, and a nation polarised by the EU referendum. We all know what the outcome was, but in this special miniseries, Ed Balls and George Osborne are joined by Michael Gove - the ultimate Leave campaign insider - to discover what really went on behind the scenes of the biggest political shakeup of the 21st century. In this first part of three, Ed, George and Michael take us back to the beginning of ...
Apr 04, 2024•47 min•Ep 45•Transcript available on Metacast Parliament may be heading into recess, but there’s little time for holidaying as the political parties are heading straight into local election campaigning after Easter. Ed Balls and George Osborne take stock of how those campaigns are shaping up, who and what to watch out for, and how the results might change the Westminster mood. Is the BBC in danger again? And this time it’s from inside. After Tim Davie’s remarks this week, Ed and George take a deep dive on their own history with Auntie. ...
Mar 28, 2024•54 min•Ep 44•Transcript available on Metacast The latest polling predicts Conservative armageddon in the next election. But do these polls matter? George reveals why the Tories are still banking on winning over those ‘don’t know’ voters. They’ll have a mountain to climb, with growing fears of coordinated tactical voting. Will it work as a strategy, and have Ed and George ever dared to vote for another party? And when Taylor Swift comes roaring into town, does she bring a massive economic boost with her? Our not-so-secret Swiftie...
Mar 25, 2024•30 min•Ep 43•Transcript available on Metacast Rishi Sunak is on a mission to prove his political fortunes are turning round… despite a long list of headaches. How can he get out of the political spiral he’s in? George and Ed pick over some lessons from Prime Ministers past… He’d do well to heed their words. On the Labour side, Rachel Reeves had made another big play for the role of chancellor, giving the Mais lecture. Is ‘securonomics’ the future of Britain? And does it mean she’s disowning some of Ed’s New Labour decisions? And forge...
Mar 21, 2024•57 min•Ep 42•Transcript available on Metacast Is legalising cannabis the answer to the hole in Labour’s financial plans? Are fiscal rules there to be broken? And, in light of the infamous royal photography fail, can Ed and George think of other times a photograph has landed a public figure in hot water? Of course they can - sorry Prime Minister! Got a question for Ed and George? Send a voice note to questions@politicalcurrency.co.uk Producer: Rosie Stopher Production support: Miriam Hall Executive Producers: Dino Sofos and Ellie...
Mar 18, 2024•26 min•Ep 41•Transcript available on Metacast Michael Gove is rolling out his new definition of extremism this week, to the chagrin of people across the political spectrum. Ed and George weigh in on whether this will have any impact in keeping the UK safe, or whether it will threaten to divide the country further. Unfortunately for Gove, a major Tory donor undermined the whole message with his own extreme comments about Diane Abbott. Should they return his £10m donation? And why didn’t they consult their most senior Black female member befo...
Mar 14, 2024•52 min•Ep 40•Transcript available on Metacast How does Donald Trump’s popularity endure, in spite of all his misdemeanours, and might Nigel Farage be taking notes? What is universal basic income and could it ever work in the UK? And George addresses recent claims that his little birdies in Downing Street have been found out… Ed and George are back answering more of your questions on EMQs. Have you got a burning issue you’d like them to address? Send a voice note to questions@politicalcurrency.co.uk Producer: Rosie Stopher Produc...
Mar 11, 2024•28 min•Ep 39•Transcript available on Metacast With the budget behind us, Ed pushes George on whether he’s still backing a November election. Tory sources are saying there’s a push from the centre of the party to send the country to the polls in May, but George has pretty strong views on what kind of idea that would be …. Meanwhile, Lord David Cameron is making lists and taking risks. The Foreign Secretary just celebrated 100 days in office, and George says he is being true to form by releasing a video listing off his lengthy travel ag...
Mar 07, 2024•57 min•Ep 38•Transcript available on Metacast Is this the budget that turns the Tories’ fortunes? Ed and George have been poised for this day for weeks: budget day! They give their immediate reaction to Jeremy Hunt’s (final?) spending plans, consider whether it meets the tests they set out on last week's episode, and they answer your questions. This episode was originally broadcast LIVE on YouTube. Make sure you’re following us on social media @polcurrency so you don’t miss the next one. Producer: Rosie Stopher Tech production: ...
Mar 06, 2024•33 min•Ep 37•Transcript available on Metacast It's Budget week. Do Ed and George wish they were back in Parliament? And what's the secret to making it through the speech? Plus they answer lots more of your questions, from whether Rachel Reeves is right to be thinking about reinstating the pensions lifetime allowance, to the mystery of what happened to the infamous EdStone... Be sure to follow us on our socials @polcurrency and join us at 3pm on Wednesday 6th March for Ed and George’s live budget reaction. Producer: Rosie Stopher...
Mar 04, 2024•29 min•Ep 36•Transcript available on Metacast George reveals it was Sajid Javid who told Rishi Sunak to strip Lee Anderson of the whip , after comments that have been slammed as Islamophobic and hate speech . But on the broadcast rounds, the Conservative party line is to stop short, saying the “words were wrong” – over and over and over again. How would George and Ed tackle the furore, and why do they think Rishi Sunak should take a hard line and not “leave junior ministers out to dry”? All the while, next week’s budget is causing friction ...
Feb 29, 2024•1 hr•Ep 35•Transcript available on Metacast Is Boris Johnson's forthcoming book going to cause Rishi Sunak another headache? Is it acceptable for political leaders to take private planes? And does positive discrimination ever work in politics? Ed Balls and George Osborne answer these questions and more in our latest instalment of EMQs. Send your questions for future episodes to questions@politicalcurrency.co.uk Follow us on social media: @polcurrency Producers: Rosie Stopher and Nathan Copelin Production support: Miriam Hall Product...
Feb 26, 2024•31 min•Ep 34•Transcript available on Metacast 
