Avsnitt
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Rachel Reeves has finally delivered her much-anticipated Spending Review, but has it done anything to shift Labour’s story? George Osborne calls it “continuity Sunak,” arguing that the big spending pledges are less a break from the past and more a continuation of Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak’s economic path. Ed Balls says Reeves is taking ‘a real gamble’ without ‘any insurance’, boxing herself in with big promises, uncertain growth, and no room to manoeuvre.
With defence and the NHS coming out on top, and departments like the Foreign Office facing deep cuts, what does this Review tell us about Labour’s true priorities? And can the party really keep these pledges without raising taxes or breaking its own fiscal rules?
Meanwhile, across the Atlantic, Donald Trump is making headlines once again, this time for turning on his old ally Elon Musk and deploying troops into LA over immigration protests. Ed and George assess what it all means for the UK’s relationship with Trump, the future of US-UK diplomacy, and Starmer’s carefully built transatlantic strategy.
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Please note: Kitchen Cabinet is only available via Patreon.
Producer: Miriam Hall
Senior Producer: Silvia Maresca
Video Editor: Danny Pape
Executive Producer: Ellie Clifford
Political Currency is a Persephonica Production and is part of the Acast Creator Network.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Two Members of Parliament (and a former too!) are seeking Ed Balls’ and George Osborne’s counsel this week. The pair consider the impact of AI, courtesy of a question from Alan Mak, the MP for Havant and the Shadow Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology - who has rung in to ask how emerging technologies can help governments run better. Meanwhile, Jake Richards, a newly elected Labour member, wants their views on immigration policy.
And Ed and George are live, unscripted, and face-to-face for the first time - answering questions at the SXSW festival. The pair consider how best to handle a political sacking - would a couple of sherries help? Or should one invest in a coffee machine so you never have to leave the house? They also mull the value of a Politics, Philosophy and Economics (PPE) degree. Plus, they share their favourite political jokes, and the role of humor and satire in the current environment …
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Please note: Kitchen Cabinet is only available via Patreon.
Producer: Miriam Hall
Senior Producer: Silvia Maresca
Video Editor: Danny Pape
Executive Producer: Ellie Clifford
Political Currency is a Persephonica Production and is part of the Acast Creator Network.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Saknas det avsnitt?
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With just days to go before Rachel Reeves delivers her first Spending Review, Labour is facing an uncomfortable squeeze. NATO wants defence spending ramped up to 3.5% of GDP, but Reeves is sticking to her strict fiscal rules. Can Starmer keep both Washington and voters at home on side - or will the sums simply stop adding up?
Meanwhile, Donald Trump is reigniting the trade war - with a 25% steel tariff sending markets wobbling. The UK may have a temporary exemption, but there are warning signs everywhere: surging bond yields, a weakening pound, and talk of a “crack” in the market from Wall Street’s biggest voices. What does it all mean for the UK - and could global turbulence derail Labour’s investment plans before they’ve begun?
And Boris Johnson’s back in the headlines. Could he really be planning a political comeback? With Reform UK on the rise and Conservative nerves showing, some see him as a vote-winner. But under Kemi Badenoch’s leadership, would his return solve more problems than it creates?
To get episodes early and ad-free, join Political Currency Gold or the Kitchen Cabinet:
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Please note: Kitchen Cabinet is only available via Patreon.
Producer: Miriam Hall
Senior Producer: Silvia Maresca
Video Editor: Danny Pape
Executive Producer: Ellie Clifford
Political Currency is a Persephonica Production and is part of the Acast Creator Network.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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When things go wrong - very badly wrong, as with the case of the infected blood and the sub-postmasters scandals - why can’t the state act quickly to compensate victims? Ed Balls and George Osborne consider how the government should best respond, and balance the interests of innocent people as well as taxpayers.
Harvard is the latest American university to feel the full force of Donald Trump’s ire, with the US president trying to stop the storied institution from bringing on international students. Could there be benefits for Britain? George thinks the government should act now, without delay, to see if some of the best and brightest could abandon the USA for the UK.
And the pair lift the lid on their own political memorabilia collection. Can you guess which former US president George has got a special connection to - thanks to some surprising collectors items?
Don’t forget we’re doing our first Political Currency live show - we’ll be taking to the stage on Thursday 5th June 2025 at SXSW London. Want a chance to grab a FREE ticket and a pass to the WHOLE six day business conference, worth £600?! Sign up to be a Kitchen Cabinet member to hear how you can get your hands on a ticket!
To get episodes early and ad-free, join Political Currency Gold or the Kitchen Cabinet:
👉 patreon.com/politicalcurrency
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Please note: Kitchen Cabinet is only available via Patreon.
Producer: Miriam Hall
Senior Producer: Silvia Maresca
Video Editor: Oliver Geraghty
Executive Producer: Ellie Clifford
Political Currency is a Persephonica Production and is part of the Acast Creator Network.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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If Labour was hoping for one of those quick and easy policy U-turns, they certainly haven’t got it. With Rachel Reeves’ spending review a scant two weeks away, the government is still having trouble explaining the details - or providing any detail, really - on how winter fuel payments are now going to work. Now that cutting the two-child benefit cap is in the mix, who is going to explain what is playing out to the general public, and when? Ed Balls thinks it’s all pretty messy, while George Osborne has got a different word for it: baffling.
Meanwhile, King Charles has just been in Canada to open up the parliamentary session. An interesting piece of soft diplomacy as Prime Minister Mark Carney navigates a tense relationship with US President Donald Trump. The pair consider - with an unprecedented second state visit to the UK for Trump on the horizon and a chaotic on-again off-again US trade war underway - how should the government best handle it?
And they turn their attention to the US tech giants dominance of the UK app store. Is the Apple-Google duology stifling UK growth?
A reminder that we’re doing our first Political Currency live show - we’ll be taking to the stage on Thursday 5th June 2025 at SXSW London. Want a chance to grab a FREE ticket and a pass to the WHOLE six day business conference, worth £600?! Sign up to be a Kitchen Cabinet member to hear how you can get your hands on a ticket!
To get episodes early and ad-free, join Political Currency Gold or the Kitchen Cabinet:
👉 patreon.com/politicalcurrency
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Please note: Kitchen Cabinet is only available via Patreon.
Producer: Miriam Hall
Senior Producer: Silvia Maresca
Video Editor: Oliver Geraghty
Executive Producer: Ellie Clifford
Political Currency is a Persephonica Production and is part of the Acast Creator Network.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Can a quick political win keep the public on side while the hard work happens behind the scenes? This week on Ex-Ministers’ Questions, Ed Balls and George Osborne debate whether Labour's lack of early symbolic moves has cost them public goodwill - and whether a bit of political theatre can actually make or break a government.
They also tackle questions from across the UK and the US: how can Kemi Badenoch rebuild morale in a bruised Conservative Party? What’s the right way to pitch bold economic ideas in a divided world? And who really decides where government contracts go - ministers or mandarins?
Plus: a look back at Keynes’s legacy with HM Treasury's Mario Pisani, a tip of the hat to Mr Bates vs the Post Office, and Ed’s run-in with a very enthusiastic listener at Harvard.
And a reminder, we’re doing our first Political Currency live show - we’ll be taking to the stage on Thursday 5th June 2025 at SXSW London. Want a chance to grab a FREE ticket and a pass to the WHOLE six day business conference, worth £600?! Sign up to be a Kitchen Cabinet member to hear how you can get your hands on a ticket!
To get episodes early and ad-free, join Political Currency Gold or the Kitchen Cabinet:
👉 patreon.com/politicalcurrency
👉 Apple Podcasts
Please note: Kitchen Cabinet is only available via Patreon.
Producer: Miriam Hall
Senior Producer: Silvia Maresca
Video Editor: Oliver Geraghty
Executive Producer: Ellie Clifford
Political Currency is a Persephonica Production and is part of the Acast Creator Network.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Did someone say U-turn? Ed Balls and George Osborne have been saying it for a while, actually, when it comes to the matter of the controversial winter fuel tax cut. Now that the government has walked it back, will it do the trick and soothe voters and ease tensions with Labour MPs? Ed thinks the approach is “politically and technically messy”. George, for his part, thinks it’s nothing short of a damaging “fiasco” for Labour.
Meanwhile, David Lammy announced this week the suspension of trade talks with Israel, in light of the escalating violence in Gaza. Does this signal a shift in the UK-Israel relations? And will it make much difference to the crisis if it does? George isn’t so sure…
Plus, the pair discuss the newly-minted, post-Brexit deal with the EU - did Britain make the right calls and the right concessions? And a trip down banking regulation memory lane: is it time to wind back bank ringfencing, an ongoing legacy from the Osborne era?
And a reminder, we’re doing our first Political Currency live show - we’ll be taking to the stage on Thursday 5th June 2025 at SXSW London. Want a chance to grab a FREE ticket and a pass to the WHOLE six day business conference, worth £600?! Sign up to be a Kitchen Cabinet member to hear how you can get your hands on a ticket!
To get episodes early and ad-free, join Political Currency Gold or the Kitchen Cabinet:
👉 patreon.com/politicalcurrency
👉 Apple Podcasts
Please note: Kitchen Cabinet is only available via Patreon.
Producer: Miriam Hall
Senior Producer: Silvia Maresca
Video Editor: Oliver Geraghty
Executive Producer: Ellie Clifford
Political Currency is a Persephonica Production and is part of the Acast Creator Network.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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California Governor hopeful Steve Hilton has a question for Ed Balls and George Osborne this week: which American state would they choose to live in, and would they rather be a senator or a governor? A trip down fantasy lane has the pair questioning the best path to political glory, based on previous presidents’ CVs. Ed Balls for 2032? Seems… far fetched.
Back in the real world, the pair debate whether cutting Employer National Insurance Contributions could help get people back into work - and whether Trump’s approach to tariffs has, unintentionally, made him a little bit green.
Plus, they reflect on their time facing PMQs in Parliament - and what was really driving their biggest moments at the despatch box.
Some exciting news from us! We’re doing our first Political Currency live show - we’ll be taking to the stage on Thursday 5th June 2025 at SXSW London. Want a chance to grab a FREE ticket and a pass to the WHOLE six day business conference, worth £600?! Sign up to be a Kitchen Cabinet member to hear how you can get your hands on a ticket!
To get episodes early and ad-free, join Political Currency Gold or the Kitchen Cabinet:
👉 patreon.com/politicalcurrency
👉 Apple Podcasts
Please note: Kitchen Cabinet is only available via Patreon.
Producer: Miriam Hall
Senior Producer: Silvia Maresca
Video Editor: Oliver Geraghty
Executive Producer: Ellie Clifford
Political Currency is a Persephonica Production and is part of the Acast Creator Network.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Keir Starmer’s controversial reference to an “Island of strangers” as part of his immigration overhaul has sparked a furore, and inspired a comparison to his previous stance on migration. Ed Balls thinks while there’s no doubt it will cause some consternation, it will be a price worth paying. George Osborne, meanwhile, is getting Tory vibes … it all sounds a bit like it could’ve come from a Conservative government to him.
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump is on a glitzy tour of the Middle East, shaking off any suggestion the gift of a plane from Qatar might be running afoul of a little thing called the US constitutional emoluments clause. What’s the foreign policy impact of this trip?
And speaking of the president, the pair consider Trump’s tariff on film production outside the US. It’s a bid to restore the American film industry to its former glory, but at what cost? And what kind of fallout will there be in the UK’s industry?
Plus, some exciting news from us! We’re doing our first Political Currency live show - we’ll be taking to the stage on Thursday 5th June 2025 at SXSW London. Want a chance to grab a FREE ticket and a pass to the WHOLE six day business conference, worth £600?! Sign up to be a Kitchen Cabinet member to hear how you can get your hands on a ticket!
To get episodes early and ad-free, join Political Currency Gold or the Kitchen Cabinet:
👉 patreon.com/politicalcurrency
👉 Apple Podcasts
Please note: Kitchen Cabinet is only available via Patreon.
Producer: Miriam Hall
Senior Producer: Silvia Maresca
Video Editor: Oliver Geraghty
Executive Producer: Ellie Clifford
Political Currency is a Persephonica Production and is part of the Acast Creator Network.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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This week on Ex Ministers’ Questions Ed Balls and George Osborne hear from listeners from the high seas, the Dubai sun, and the halls of Parliament - including a Gold subscriber who circumnavigated the globe listening to the podcast under the stars.
The pair consider, has the press been too negative on the government’s brand new free trade deal with India? And while they’re talking about global alliances, they share their thoughts on CANZUK, a proposed alliance between Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the UK.
Meanwhile, the newly-elected Reform UK Mayor Andrea Jenkyns asks for advice on putting Greater Lincolnshire on the map. They weigh in on how cash-strapped local councils can protect the most vulnerable. And they cast their minds back to when they last slept out in a tent…
To get episodes early and ad-free, join Political Currency Gold or the Kitchen Cabinet:
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Please note: Kitchen Cabinet is only available via Patreon.
Producer: Miriam Hall
Senior Producer: Silvia Maresca
Video Editor: Danny Pape
Executive Producer: Dino Sofos
Political Currency is a Persephonica Production and is part of the Acast Creator Network.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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It’s been an impressive week for the Labour government, with trade deals with both India and the US. Ed Balls and George Osborne consider: what does this say about the Starmer government’s ‘softly-softly’ approach to the wildly unpredictable Trump administration? Being the first in the world to ink a deal with the Americans is nothing to be sniffed at, even if it is a little light on the details – but they both agree the big prize will be a deal with the European Union.... What role will free labour movement play? And what price will Labour be willing to pay, considering the all-important need to keep voters placated on matters of immigration and the economy?
Back home, Nigel Farage claims his Reform Party is now the official opposition of the land following a bruising local election for both the major parties. Ed and George consider how both Labour and the Tories will need to position themselves to keep their base.
Plus, they turn to the matter of interest rates. The US Federal reserve opted to keep the base rate steady, while the Bank of England has granted borrowers something of a reprieve. What does this say about the direction of the British economy?
To get episodes early and ad-free, join Political Currency Gold or the Kitchen Cabinet:
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Please note: Kitchen Cabinet is only available via Patreon.
Producer: Miriam Hall
Senior Producer: Silvia Maresca
Video Editor: Danny Pape
Executive Producer: Ellie Clifford
Political Currency is a Persephonica Production and is part of the Acast Creator Network.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Ed Balls and George Osborne, fresh from a break for the Inside the Room Series: The Election that Never Was, jump straight back in with a slew of questions. With George’s old mate and former David Cameron adviser Steve Hilton jumping into the Governor’s race in California they counsel a stateside Republican voter (and Kitchen Cabinet member) on whether they think he’s a good choice.
They also mull data sources for parliamentarians. Are there rules on what’s fair game when crunching the numbers? Or can you cherry pick and choose as it suits? They turn philosophical: is there ever a point when politics and policy has totally served its purpose?
A listener who has been using the show to work up to GCSE studies asks: What’s the best way to get across the financial aspect of politics? The pair share their tips on the best ways to build a good political and economic understanding in today’s climate.
To get episodes early and ad-free, join Political Currency Gold or the Kitchen Cabinet:
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Please note: Kitchen Cabinet is only available via Patreon.
Producer: Miriam Hall
Senior Producer: Silvia Maresca
Video Editor: Oliver Geraghty
Executive Producer: Dino Sofos
Political Currency is a Persephonica Production and is part of the Acast Creator Network.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Local elections are taking place across England today - and they’re a major political test for Keir Starmer, Kemi Badenoch, and Nigel Farage. Ed Balls and George Osborne break down what’s at stake in these key contests, from mayoral races to a critical by-election.
Meanwhile, across the pond, Donald Trump has just hit 100 days in office. With stock markets reeling, 142 executive orders signed, and a trade war brewing, Ed and George ask how Keir Starmer should handle the ‘special relationship’ with a now even more unpredictable White House?
Plus, Mark Carney - the former Bank of England Governor - has just led his party to victory in Canada. A backlash to Trump, or a one-off? And what might it signal for upcoming elections in Australia and beyond?
To get episodes early and ad-free, join Political Currency Gold or the Kitchen Cabinet:
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Please note: Kitchen Cabinet is only available via Patreon.
Producer: Miriam Hall
Senior Producer: Silvia Maresca
Video Editor: Oliver Geraghty
Executive Producer: Dino Sofos
Political Currency is a Persephonica Production and is part of the Acast Creator Network.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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To Snap or Not to Snap?... As we turn to October 2007, election fever has taken over the UK - everyone from journalists to the opposition to Ed Balls himself is expecting Gordon Brown to call a snap general election. But with the polls lurching back towards the Tories, Brown gets cold feet.
In the final episode of this series, Deborah Mattinson rejoins the series to recall those final war room discussions with Gordon Brown himself and his closest advisors, discussions that end up with the election… aborted.
Brown chooses to make this public in a blockbuster Downing Street interview with Andrew Marr, who joins us in the studio for the second half of the show to take us behind the scenes at that momentous juncture. How did he end up with the scoop, what was Gordon Brown’s demeanor in the room, and why did he decide to break the news as soon as he walked out the door of number 10?
To listen our bonus 'The Inquiry' episode, where Ed and George reflect on this series, sign up to Political Currency Gold or our Kitchen Cabinet. Head to Apple Podcasts or www.patreon.com/PoliticalCurrency to find out more.
Producers: John Rogers and Miriam Hall
Technical Producer: Danny Pape
Executive Producers: Ellie Clifford and Dino Sofos
Political Currency is a Persephonica Production and is part of the Acast Creator Network
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Election Speculation... Labour had a substantial lead in the polls in 2007, fuelling talk of a snap general election to cement Gordon Brown’s place in Number 10. And things only got better as the party arrived in Bournemouth for their party conference. By the end of it, election fever was well and truly in the air.
To listen to episode 3 straight away, sign up to Political Currency Gold or our Kitchen Cabinet. Head to Apple Podcasts or www.patreon.com/PoliticalCurrency to find out more. Subscribers will also get exclusive access to 'The Inquiry' - our bonus episode where Ed and George give their reflections on the series.
EPISODE 2: Labour’s rivals had to follow the show, and shadow chancellor George Osborne had an ace up his sleeve to unveil at their own conference in Blackpool: a hugely popular cut on inheritance tax. David Cameron followed it up with his own surprise move, a ‘no-notes’ speech that was well received. Suddenly, the polls swung back, erasing the Labour lead in less than a week. Deborah Mattinson - a key pollster for Gordon Brown - continues in the studio with George and Ed to relive these tumultuous couple of weeks.
Producers: John Rogers and Miriam Hall
Technical Producer: Danny Pape
Executive Producers: Ellie Clifford and Dino Sofos
Political Currency is a Persephonica Production and is part of the Acast Creator Network
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Gordon Brown Takes the Crown... Ed Balls and George Osborne relive the sliding doors moment that could have changed the course of British history - the 2007 election that never was.
To listen to episodes 2 and 3 straight away, sign up to Political Currency Gold or our Kitchen Cabinet. Head to Apple Podcasts or www.patreon.com/PoliticalCurrency to find out more. Subscribers will also get exclusive access to 'The Inquiry' - our bonus episode where Ed and George give their reflections on the series.
EPISODE 1: Gordon Brown had sat in Tony Blair’s shadow for over a decade. But suddenly, in the summer of 2007, he had his chance. As Blair stepped back, Brown stepped up - from Number 11 to Number 10 - without a single vote being cast. On the 27th June, he visited Buckingham Palace, and accepted the invitation from Queen Elizabeth II to form a government.
His first three months were somewhat chaotic. Before his first PMQs, he was dealing with terrorism attacks in London and Glasgow. An outbreak of foot and mouth disease came soon after, as did flooding across the country. And then came the runs on Northern Rock, the canary in the coal mine of the impending financial crash.
George and Ed go 'Inside The Room' with Deborah Mattinson, Gordon Brown’s chief pollster. Deborah and Ed were inside many of the same Labour war rooms together, as trusted lieutenants of the former Iron Chancellor, and they recall these positive early days of the Brown premiership.
George, meanwhile, takes us inside the Tory camp of that era and David Cameron’s struggle to land effective blows against Brown. We also hear from Andy Coulson, the Tory head of communications during that period.
Producers: John Rogers and Miriam Hall
Technical Producer: Danny Pape
Executive Producers: Ellie Clifford and Dino Sofos
Political Currency is a Persephonica Production and is part of the Acast Creator Network
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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In this Easter special, Ed Balls and George Osborne meet a truly mythical creature: someone who wants to pay more tax, not less. And according to George, there’s actually a way to do it.
They also discuss a big political what-if: what happens if a Prime Minister loses their seat? They've talked before about how someone can become PM without being an MP - think Mark Carney in Canada - but this week they flip the question: could one keep the top job if your constituents vote you out?
Also in the mix: is a government running out of money about to come for your pension? Would scrapping the tax-free lump sum be a smart or desperate move? And is it time to give our big cities more power - and more room to grow?
And a note, don’t miss our upcoming Inside the Room: The Election That Never Was - which is out tomorrow for subscribers and Monday for everyone else.
Become a member of POLITICAL CURRENCY GOLD 🏅 to support the podcast, enjoy ad-free listening to all our episodes and receive early access to EMQs. Or, join Political Currency’s KITCHEN CABINET to enjoy early and ad-free listening, access to live EMQs recordings, and exclusive Political Currency merch.
Subscribe now: patreon.com/politicalcurrency or on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/politicalcurrency. Please note Kitchen Cabinet subscriptions are only available through Patreon.
Technical Producer: Danny Pape
Producers: Miriam Hall and Silvia Maresca
Executive Producers: Dino Sofos and Ellie Clifford
Political Currency is a Persephonica Production and is part of the Acast Creator Network.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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As the US-China trade war heats up, Ed Balls and George Osborne ask: what if the Trump White House took the nuclear option… defaulting on its debts to China? Ed explains why that could be a catastrophic thing to do, while George points to the ‘Mar-a-Lago Accord’ as a way that the US in reality may negotiate its debt.
Sticking with Trump, Ed and George also ponder ‘patrimonalism’ – a term coined by Max Weber to describe governance by personal loyalty and kinship… Is Donald Trump the first patrimonial President of the United States?
Josh Simons MP, a rising star in the Labour Party, asks for advice on getting government backing for a new road in his Makerfield constituency. Is he right to lobby the Housing and Transport departments, and what sort of arguments will pique the interest of the Labour leadership?
Right now, the UK has eight living former Prime Ministers. Ed and George conclude by comparing their behaviour upon leaving Number 10. Which PMs clearly can’t let go, and whose stock has risen over time?
Technical Producer: Danny Pape
Producers: Miriam Hall and Jarek Żaba
Executive Producer: Dino Sofos
Political Currency is a Persephonica Production and is part of the Acast Creator Network.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Become a member of POLITICAL CURRENCY GOLD 🏅 to support the podcast, enjoy ad-free listening to all our episodes and receive early access to EMQs. Or, join Political Currency’s KITCHEN CABINET to enjoy early and ad-free listening, access to live EMQs recordings, and exclusive Political Currency merch.
Subscribe now: patreon.com/politicalcurrency or on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/politicalcurrency. Please note Kitchen Cabinet subscriptions are only available through Patreon.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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It’s been a rollercoaster few days for the world economy thanks to Donald Trump’s ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs announcement - and his dramatic U-turn a scant week later. With a 90-day pause for every country hit - aside from China - Ed Balls and George Osborne consider the significance of a hugely disappointing auction of US treasuries, and how it led to Trump’s Treasury Secretary warning him of a looming economic crisis.
They ask: are we watching in real time the US tearing at the foundations of the very system they created? And are there now the first rumblings of Republican discontent? Seems like there’s the first signs of figures in Congress and on Wall Street starting to dissent …
Meanwhile, Keir Starmer has vowed to ‘turbocharge’ the UK economy in the face of global economic tumult. George runs through the options available to the Prime Minister… Is the answer in softening ‘ironclad’ fiscal rules, deals with India or the EU, or hoovering up scientific talent alienated from the US?
And they turn their attention to a Harvard and Kings College London paper, co-authored by Professor Ed Balls – what can the UK learn from ‘Bidenomics’?
Become a member of POLITICAL CURRENCY GOLD 🏅 to support the podcast, enjoy ad-free listening to all our episodes and receive early access to EMQs. Or, join Political Currency’s KITCHEN CABINET to enjoy early and ad-free listening, access to live EMQs recordings, and exclusive Political Currency merch.
Subscribe now: patreon.com/politicalcurrency or on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/politicalcurrency. Please note Kitchen Cabinet subscriptions are only available through Patreon.
Technical Producer: Danny Pape
Producers: Miriam Hall and Jarek Żaba
Executive Producer: Dino Sofos
Political Currency is a Persephonica Production and is part of the Acast Creator Network.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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This week, Ed Balls and George Osborne mull museums and memes via bank holidays and pennies. With listeners telling us their locations of choice, funeral director Ross ranks highly with his admission that Ed and George are sometimes listened to in a hearse on the drive home. The pair consider: what are the merits of regulating the funeral industry?
Should our cultural institutions be charging more for access?
George calls upon his expertise as Chair of the British Museum to weigh it up. Meanwhile, Ed shares his own research into the economics of a bank holiday… do we really stand to lose billions if the government was to introduce another?
Toxic masculinity and online safety are in the spotlight in the wake of Netflix’s hit show Adolescence, with research indicating that young people in the UK are particularly worried about these issues. Ed and George look at the role of government in addressing their concerns, before assessing whether the humble penny should remain a staple of British life.
And a touch of nostalgia … a listener reminds the economic duo of the ‘Budget Rap Battle’, put together by Sky News when the pair were on opposite sides of the dispatch box. Ed expresses scepticism that such memes can make a political difference, although both agree that Nick Clegg’s I’m Sorry remix was a damaging – albeit amusing – moment in the Lib Dem leader’s career….
Become a member of POLITICAL CURRENCY GOLD 🏅 to support the podcast, enjoy ad-free listening to all our episodes and receive early access to EMQs. Or, join Political Currency’s KITCHEN CABINET to enjoy early and ad-free listening, access to live EMQs recordings, and exclusive Political Currency merch.
Subscribe now: patreon.com/politicalcurrency or on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/politicalcurrency. Please note Kitchen Cabinet subscriptions are only available through Patreon.
Technical Producer: Danny Pape
Producers: Miriam Hall and Jarek Żaba
Executive Producer: Dino Sofos
Political Currency is a Persephonica Production and is part of the Acast Creator Network.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- Visa fler
