Episode description

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 Farage, who has been accused of inciting riots with incendiary comments about the stabbings this week.

Meanwhile, the brand new Chancellor Rachel Reeves fiscal policies have given George a case of the Deja Vu. All her policies so far have got George’s stamp of approval. Is Reeves just Osborne 2.0? Ed doesn’t think she’d be too thrilled with that comparison. 

And when it comes to the Olympics, Ed has a list of reasons why the economics don’t work for basically any city to play host. George thinks he’s being a Scrooge and should just cast his mind back to the happy, simpler days of London 2012… 

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Assistant Producer: Miriam Hall

Producer: Rosie Stopher

Technical Producer: Will Gibson Smith

Executive Producers: Dino Sofos and Ellie Clifford

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