Episode description

Ex-ministers Ed Balls and George Osborne reflect on the moments in their political careers when they went against the whip. What are the consequences of going against the party grain, and is it worth it? Simon Hart, former Chief Whip under Rishi Sunak, sends us a voice note to ask… 

And on the subject of political maneuvering and backroom deals – and with rumours swirling No 10 is planning a Spring rejig – what’s it like when there’s a cabinet reshuffle? The pair reflect on the political brutality that comes into play when there’s a shakeup. You’d be surprised who is actually first to know when there’s a change in the air … 

They also turn their attention to foreign aid in this era of nationalism and tight budgets. At the request of Tom Fletcher, of the UN, they consider the case for sending money abroad. 

Plus, Labour MP Whitehaven and Workington Josh MacAlister asks for advice on how to make big, successful decisions on things like building nuclear power stations. 

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Technical Producer: Danny Pape

Producer: Rosie Stopher and Miriam Hall 

Executive Producers: Ellie Clifford 

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