Political Currency

Persephonica
Political Currency
POLITICAL CURRENCY GOLD

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Ed Balls and George Osborne take us behind closed doors into the rooms where decisions are made. Having battled it out across the despatch box, the former Chancellor and shadow chancellor now meet in the studio to discuss the decisions that affect the nation’s pockets. Our frenemies have the knowledge and experience to explain how good politics follows the economics - and expose how the powerful become powerless when faced with market forces and political currents they can’t control. Join us every Thursday. Send your messages or voice notes to questions@politicalcurrency.co.uk Find us on social media @polcurrency Political Currency is a Persephonica production. Subscribe now on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. EMQs: Will the government support British farmers?

    1 DAY AGO • SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

    EMQs: Will the government support British farmers?

    With incensed British farmers set to descend on London in protest to the government’s new rules on inheritance tax for agricultural property, Ed Balls and George Osborne consider the likelihood of the Treasury reversing course. What made George change his mind on the so-called “pasty tax” in 2012 - and will Rachel Reeves consider a similar u-turn? This past week marked a special anniversary – the day George thought the UK would go to the polls. Should Rishi Sunak have let his run go a little longer? Author and journalist Tim Shipman, who has examined the issue of Sunak’s timing in his latest book Out: How Brexit Got Done and the Tories Were Undone asks George and Ed their view on when the Tories should’ve called the election. They also consider: Does Donald Trump’s election, and his love of protectionist policies, make the idea of the UK joining the European Union Customs Union more justifiable? And… exactly what is Gerrymandering? Professors Balls and Osborne are here to explain. Thank you for being a valued member of the POLITICAL CURRENCY GOLD 🏅 Enjoy ad-free listening to all our episodes and receive early access to EMQs. Production support: Caillin McDaid Producers: Rosie Stopher, James Shield and Miriam Hall 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.

    36 min
  2. 2 DAYS AGO

    Who should be the UK’s ambassador to Trumpworld?

    The second era of Trump is a little over a week old, and the president-elect is making waves with his cabinet appointments. An attorney general who has been investigated by the House ethics committee for sexual misconduct allegations (which he vehemently denies)? Welcome, Matt Gaetz. Trump’s pick for defence secretary? Pete Hegseth, a Fox News host who’s a proponent of American-made ammo. George Osborne and Ed Balls consider what the spillover will be for the UK. Will the recently cooked-up Chagos Islands deal get messy? And will Britain find itself more exposed to America than the US itself when it comes to the economic fallout? And while Nigel Farage still appears to be jostling to become UK ambassador to the US, Peter Mandelson is strongly tipped for the job. Do unusual times call for an ambassador with a little ‘British allure’? Back home, and the Labour government has increased tuition fees for the first time since 2017. With that, and the cut in the winter fuel payment, George says he’s really starting to get on board with the Starmer government… 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: Miriam Hall, Rosie Stopher and James Shield Executive Producers: Ellie Clifford Political Currency is a Persephonica Production and is part of the Acast Creator Network. Subscribe now on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    55 min
  3. EMQs: Is there a silver lining in Trump?

    5 DAYS AGO

    EMQs: Is there a silver lining in Trump?

    Donald Trump’s return has provoked days of soul searching among Democratic voters. But the pollster with one of the most accurate predictions of the outcome, James Johnson of JL Partners, has asked George Osborne and Ed Balls to shake off the gloom and consider any positives. Is there a silver lining in a second Trump presidency? George has some ideas, while Ed is struggling…  Votebeat editorial director Jessica Huseman asks: does the world see the US as an international example of democracy any more? Did it ever?  And Susanna Reid from Good Morning Britain has rung in to ask what Trump’s re-election tells us about what voters truly want. Plus: with Kemi Badenoch now leading the Tories, George and Ed answer the question: what does the shadow cabinet …actually do?  You could have been listening to this episode of EMQs early and ad-free! 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 Producer: Miriam Hall and James Shield 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. Subscribe now on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    38 min
  4. HOT TAKE: Donald Trump is President

    6 NOV

    HOT TAKE: Donald Trump is President

    Donald Trump is set to make his return to the White House after a stunning overnight victory against Kamala Harris in the US election, just as George Osborne and Ed Balls predicted. But was this just a simple case of ‘It’s the economy, stupid!’ Ed thinks the Harris loss could be a warning to UK’s Labour party members –  if they don’t get UK living standards up, could they go the way of the Biden Democrats too? George, meanwhile, thinks Trump’s win exposes a fundamental challenge for the Left that it is now too focused on identity politics and not on people's living standards. They also question: will Donald Trump seek vengeance for Labour’s ill-advised involvement in the election? Nigel Farage was the only British politician with a major presence in the US overnight. Does his time at the Trump victory party mean Reform will be getting some help from Trump in years to come?  Thanks for listening. 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:  Mikey Nissenbaum Producers: Miriam Hall  Executive Producers: Ellie Clifford Political Currency is a Persephonica Production and is part of the Acast Creator Network.  Subscribe now on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    31 min
  5. 31 OCT

    What did Rachel Reeves’ Budget miss?

    The dust has settled on Rachel Reeves’ budget, and despite a strong performance from the Chancellor, George Osborne and Ed Balls have noticed a few glaring omissions. Child poverty? Didn’t really rate a mention. How about some of the New Labour classics like getting people back to work? Pensioners? Nope. So how did this crucial economic pitch to the nation stack up? Ed and George consider how the fallout might impact Labour all the way to the next election. Meanwhile, the polls are telling us the historic US election is set to be a squeaker, with Kamala Harris and Donald Trump in a dead heat. The betting platforms and markets are telling a different story, however. George has the latest on who the world’s major financiers are expecting to be in the White House come January …  And speaking of going to the polls, Japan’s snap election just backfired – did anyone in the UK notice? Ed and George question if we should be paying more attention to this major world economy. Remember, you can catch up on our Budget Hot Take here: tr.ee/pc-live 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: Miriam Hall and Danny Garlick Executive Producers: Ellie Clifford and Dino Sofos Political Currency is a Persephonica Production and is part of the Acast Creator Network.  Subscribe now on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1 hr

About

Ed Balls and George Osborne take us behind closed doors into the rooms where decisions are made. Having battled it out across the despatch box, the former Chancellor and shadow chancellor now meet in the studio to discuss the decisions that affect the nation’s pockets. Our frenemies have the knowledge and experience to explain how good politics follows the economics - and expose how the powerful become powerless when faced with market forces and political currents they can’t control. Join us every Thursday. Send your messages or voice notes to questions@politicalcurrency.co.uk Find us on social media @polcurrency Political Currency is a Persephonica production. Subscribe now on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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