Political Currency

Drumroll, please. After keeping his cards pretty close to his chest throughout the Tory leadership campaign, George Osborne is ready to name who he thinks should seize the Tory crown. With the race now whittled down to just two people – Kemi Badenoch and Robert Jenrick – George explains why a possible exit from the European Convention on Human Rights has swayed his choice and what might put him off voting Conservative at all...

Meanwhile, members of the Labour party are in hot water after Donald Trump accused them of election interference. Ed Balls thinks the party’s decision to get involved in a foreign country’s election could be described in a few ways (mainly as naive, gauche and definitely a mistake.)

And, less than a week away from the first Labour budget in 14 years, has the party done enough to convince voters, the markets and business leaders there’s a plan for economic growth?

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Subscribe now: patreon.com/politicalcurrency or on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/politicalcurrency

Production support: Caillin McDaid

Technical Producer: Oliver Geraghty

Producers: Miriam Hall and Danny Garlick

Executive Producers: 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.

How can Rachel Reeves solve her £40 billion budget gap without breaking Labour’s manifesto promise? Ed Balls and George Osborne take a deep dive into the tax hikes she has and hasn’t ruled out - and whether she can fairly class raising employer National Insurance contributions as manifesto-friendly.

Elsewhere, Labour continues to woo the business community - this time at its International Investment summit. But can an event like this overcome the very real barriers to growth that the UK faces?

And, with the passing of controversial SNP titan Alex Salmond, Ed and George look back on his legacy, and the state of his former party.

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.

Subscribe now: patreon.com/politicalcurrency or on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/politicalcurrency

Production support: Caillin McDaid

Technical Producer: Oliver Geraghty

Producers: Rosie Stopher, Miriam Hall and Danny Garlick

Executive Producers: 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.

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...

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.

Subscribe now: patreon.com/politicalcurrency or on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/politicalcurrency

Remember to send us your questions to [email protected]

Assistant Producer: Miriam Hall

Producer: Rosie Stopher

Technical Producer: Will Gibson Smith

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.

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 [email protected]

Producer: Rosie Stopher

Production support: Miriam Hall

Production Manager: Flick Heath

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.

James Cleverly has made a stunning exit from the Tory leadership race, leaving Kemi Badenoch and Robert Jenrick as the final two to duke it out. George Osborne and Ed Balls consider if that’s thanks to some cunning political strategising or just a good old-fashioned cock up. Now, of the two who is more likely to take the crown? George thinks Jenrick is more “malleable” – is that what an opposition leader needs to be? Is Badenoch Mrs T(hatcher) or T(russ)?

Meanwhile, the lead up to the budget is intensifying with the IFS Green Budget being published this week. Can Rachel Reeves change her fiscal rules without spooking the markets?

Finally, what is the role of Downing Street’s Chief of Staff? With Sue Gray's departure, what can Morgan McSweeney learn from his predecessors to right her wrongs and rebuild the government’s image?

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.

Subscribe now: patreon.com/politicalcurrency or on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/politicalcurrency

Production support: Caillin McDaid

Producers: Rosie Stopher and Miriam Hall

Executive Producers: 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.