Political Currency

After helping to secure a victory for Donald Trump in the US election Elon Musk is seemingly setting his sights on the UK and Reform. Ed Balls and George Osborne take stock of whether Keir Starmer and Kemi Badenoch should be worried. Is this another sign of the end of the two-party system?The historic vote on assisted dying last week has brought a whole new set of questions and challenges for the government. How Labour will balance its plans for the NHS with this potential landmark legislation? And does Keir Starmer support this? Can the cabinet divisions on the bill be overcome?Meanwhile, the government’s main focus is a relaunch to help set the agenda for the rest of the parliament. Not, of course, that they're calling it that. But do government relaunches ever work? And how can this one successfully reset the narrative? 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. You'll also get EXCLUSIVE access to Ed and George's Inside The Room: The Scottish Independence Referendum debrief conversation.Subscribe now: patreon.com/politicalcurrency or on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/politicalcurrency Production support: Caillin McDaidTechnical producer: Oliver GeraghtyProducers: Miriam Hall and James ShieldExecutive Producer: Rosie StopherPolitical Currency is a Persephonica Production and is part of the Acast Creator Network.

A decade ago, the Scottish people went to the polls for a referendum vote to make a choice: should the country break free of the United Kingdom? Ultimately, they voted to stay by a resounding margin – crushing the hopes of the Scottish National Party and soothing the fears of the British government of the day. But the issue of Independence continues to divide, and in this special miniseries, George Osborne and Ed Balls are joined by the former First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon to take a fresh, forensic look at the forces, decisions and party politics that drove the independence movement. With just weeks to go, polling suggested the ‘Yes’ campaign had it, and Scottish voters were going to vote to leave. Nicola Sturgeon reveals the sense of jubilation inside the SNP when the tide began to turn their way, and fear the British establishment was only set to become more ferocious. If the poll had come just a little later, could the ‘Yes’ side have been triumphant? Did the “Vow” – a promise for more devolution powers – make a difference? Who was convinced Rupert Murdoch was going to use his tabloid to support their interests? Remember to send us your questions in for our special Inside The Room: The Scottish Independence Referendum episode of EMQs. You can send them to questions@politicalcurrency.co.ukPolitical Currency Gold subscribers have exclusive access to Ed and George's debrief chat. POLITICAL CURRENCY GOLD 🏅Become a member of Political Currency Gold to support the podcast, enjoy ad-free listening to all our episodes, receive early access to EMQs and Inside The Room, and more. Subscribe now: patreon.com/PoliticalCurrency or on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/politicalcurrencyProducers: Rosie Stopher and John RogersTechnical Producer: Oliver GeraghtyProduction Support: Miriam HallExecutive Producers: Ellie Clifford and Dino SofosArchive: BBC News, EuroNews and Sky News.Political Currency is a Persephonica Production and is part of the Acast Creator NetworkHosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A decade ago, the Scottish people went to the polls for a referendum vote to make a choice: should the country break free of the United Kingdom? Ultimately, they voted to stay by a resounding margin – crushing the hopes of the Scottish National Party and soothing the fears of the British government of the day. But the issue of Independence continues to divide, and in this special miniseries, George Osborne and Ed Balls are joined by the former First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon to take a fresh, forensic look at the forces, decisions and party politics that drove the independence movement. As the independence vote approached, the question of finances and currency began to plague the ‘Yes’ campaign. In episode two of this special miniseries, Nicola Sturgeon, Ed Balls and George Osborne reflect on the decisions, mistakes and motives that may have tilted public perceptions around Scotland's departure from the UK. We go inside Cameron government’s so-called Project Fear – was it all just scaremongering? Nicola reveals the moment she thought it was all going to collapse, and why George played part. And Ed lifts the lid on the machinations that led him to say Scotland would have to join the Euro if it were to leave the UK. Part 3 of 'Inside The Room: The Scottish Independence Referendum' is available to listen to NOW for subscribers to Political Currency Gold, as well as Ed and George's exclusive debrief. POLITICAL CURRENCY GOLD 🏅Become a member of Political Currency Gold to support the podcast, enjoy ad-free listening to all our episodes, receive early access to EMQs and Inside The Room, and more. Subscribe now: patreon.com/PoliticalCurrency or on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/politicalcurrencyProducers: Rosie Stopher and John RogersTechnical Producer: Oliver GeraghtyProduction Support: Miriam HallExecutive Producers: Ellie Clifford and Dino SofosArchive: BBC News, EuroNews and Sky News.Political Currency is a Persephonica Production and is part of the Acast Creator NetworkHosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joe Biden's White House days are numbered, and he appears to be scrambling to secure his legacy. With a ceasefire just brokered between Israel and Lebanon, George Osborne and Ed Balls ask: What kind of influence is the returning President Trump already having on foreign policy? How is the transition really working? And what does this mean for the conflict in Ukraine? Is the Trump effect forcing world leaders to harden up and have a real, public conversation about a peace deal? Back home, Rachel Reeves is talking a big game – insisting Labour won’t be bringing in any more tax increases or borrowing plans. Is she making promises that will be hard to keep? Ed and George mull whether Reeves is setting herself up for trouble down the road.And with a snap election in Germany just months away, Ed and George take a closer look at the country’s economy – which has gone from ‘miraculous’ to ‘kaput’ in just a few years – and ask who’s to blame.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/politicalcurrencyProduction support: Caillin McDaidTechnical producer: Oliver GeraghtyProducers: Miriam Hall and James ShieldExecutive Producer: Rosie StopherPolitical Currency is a Persephonica Production and is part of the Acast Creator Network.

A decade ago, the Scottish people went to the polls for a referendum vote to make a choice: should the country break free of the United Kingdom? Ultimately, they voted to stay by a resounding margin – crushing the hopes of the Scottish National Party and soothing the fears of the British government of the day. But the issue of Independence continues to divide, and in this special miniseries, George Osborne and Ed Balls are joined by the former First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon to take a fresh, forensic look at the forces, decisions and party politics that drove the independence movement. In this first of three episodes, Nicola, Ed and George walk through the key moments leading up to David Cameron’s decision to grant Holyrood the referendum vote. What was the focus of the conversations in Downing Street? George explains why he wanted to call the nationalists’ bluff and catch them off guard. And what advice did Gordon Brown provide – that Nicola says was ignored – to keep the United Kingdom intact? Parts 2 and 3 of 'Inside The Room: The Scottish Independence Referendum' are available to listen to NOW for subscribers to Political Currency Gold.POLITICAL CURRENCY GOLD 🏅Become a member of Political Currency Gold to support the podcast, enjoy ad-free listening to all our episodes, receive early access to EMQs and Inside The Room, and more. Subscribe now: patreon.com/PoliticalCurrency or on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/politicalcurrencyProducers: Rosie Stopher and John RogersTechnical Producer: Oliver GeraghtyProduction Support: Miriam HallExecutive Producers: Ellie Clifford and Dino SofosArchive: BBC News, EuroNews and Sky News.Political Currency is a Persephonica Production and is part of the Acast Creator NetworkHosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Former deputy prime minister John Prescott died yesterday at the age of 86. Often described as a ‘political bruiser’, Ed Balls and George Osborne remember Prescott differently: as a policy powerhouse and as a skilled negotiator between Blair and Brown. Does a comparable player exist in today’s Labour government? And, Ed recalls the moment he was involved in a car chase with ‘Two Jags’ himself.With the assisted dying bill facing a second reading next week, the pair consider whether it will pass or be voted down. Is the issue set to be off the agenda for a generation, or could Starmer rescue the bill?Plus: the Budget may not have fallen apart, but with Scottish Labour sending different messages, farmers (and Jeremy Clarkson) on the march and mortgage rates rising, we take a look at its political impact. Are any u-turns on the horizon?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/politicalcurrencyProduction support: Caillin McDaidTechnical Producer: Oliver GeraghtyProducers: Miriam Hall, Rosie Stopher and James ShieldExecutive Producers: Ellie CliffordPolitical Currency is a Persephonica Production and is part of the Acast Creator Network.

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. 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/politicalcurrencyProduction support: Caillin McDaidProducer: Rosie Stopher, James Shield and Miriam Hall Executive Producers: Ellie CliffordPolitical Currency is a Persephonica Production and is part of the Acast Creator Network. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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/politicalcurrencyProduction support: Caillin McDaidTechnical Producer: Oliver GeraghtyProducers: Miriam Hall, Rosie Stopher and James ShieldExecutive Producers: Ellie CliffordPolitical Currency is a Persephonica Production and is part of the Acast Creator Network.

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/politicalcurrencyProduction support: Caillin McDaidProducer: Miriam Hall and James ShieldExecutive Producers: Ellie CliffordPolitical Currency is a Persephonica Production and is part of the Acast Creator Network. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.