EMQs: Christmas crises and cracker etiquette

How do you prepare the country for austerity? David Cameron joins Ed Balls and George Osborne to step back to the 2010 budget. From the true relationship between a Prime Minister and his Chancellor, to the careful decisions on departmental spending, to the very difficult task of selling cuts to a country that doesn’t want them, this is the reality of a Prime Minister before a government-defining fiscal event. As Keir Starmer marks six months as Prime Minister, Political Currency is stepping back into 2010, when another former leader of the opposition took up the premiership. Across three episodes, Ed Balls and George Osborne are joined by David Cameron - from the moment he arrived at Downing Street, to dealing with a hostage crisis; taking on his first PMQs to the emotional loss of his father. This is Cameron as you’ve never heard him before - in conversation with both a former ally and adversary as they revisit the political moments that shaped a new government and a new leader.If you’ve listened to the first episode of Inside Number 10: David Cameron - The First Six Months and can’t wait for part 2, don’t! All episodes are already available, ad-free for Political Currency Gold subscribers, with bonus content coming later this week. And, you can now 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/politicalcurrencyProducers: Rosie Stopher, James Shield and John RogersTechnical Producer: Oliver Geraghty and Mikey NissenbaumProduction Support: Miriam Hall and Caillin McDaidExecutive Producers: Ellie Clifford and Dino SofosPolitical Currency is a Persephonica Production and is part of the Acast Creator NetworkHosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Subscribe now on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What’s it really like to step through the black door of No 10 for the first time as Prime Minister? Ed Balls and George Osborne ask David Cameron about his “out-of-body” experience on the way to the palace, plus what it’s like organising a staff team who have just had to say goodbye to a government. They discuss how to handle the top job when life starts relentlessly throwing events at you, the surprising tasks - like letters of last resort - that suddenly become your responsibility, and whether a ruthless streak is the only way to succeed.As Keir Starmer marks six months as Prime Minister, Political Currency is stepping back into 2010, when another former leader of the opposition took up the premiership. Across three episodes, Ed Balls and George Osborne are joined by David Cameron - from the moment he arrived at Downing Street, to dealing with a hostage crisis; taking on his first PMQs to the emotional loss of his father. This is Cameron as you’ve never heard him before - in conversation with both a former ally and adversary as they revisit the political moments that shaped a new government and a new leader.If you’ve listened to the first episode of Inside Number 10: David Cameron - The First Six Months and can’t wait for part 2, don’t! All episodes are already available, ad-free for Political Currency Gold subscribers, with bonus content coming later this week. And, you can now 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/politicalcurrencyProducers: Rosie Stopher, James Shield and John RogersTechnical Producer: Oliver Geraghty and Mikey NissenbaumProduction Support: Miriam Hall and Caillin McDaidExecutive Producers: Ellie Clifford and Dino SofosPolitical Currency is a Persephonica Production and is part of the Acast Creator NetworkHosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Subscribe now on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This Boxing Day, George Osborne and Ed Balls pop the champagne and turn their minds to the year ahead. Good Morning Britain's Kate Garraway asks: What could Labour achieve in 2025 that would earn it Ed and George’s seal of approval? And what are they personally looking forward to in the coming year? Meanwhile, Conservative Member of Parliament Laura Trott, Shadow Education Secretary, has rung in to ask for advice on getting the issue of improving schools on the radar. And have Ed and George really left politics for good? They consider what it would take to stage a comeback … You could have been listening to this episode of EMQs early and ad-free! And not only that… 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/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. Subscribe now on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Christmas is just days away now, so Ed Balls and George Osborne are getting into the season by reflecting on Christmas-time political emergencies that have interrupted the festivities over the years. Meanwhile, Claudia Winkleman makes a guest appearance to ask the pair to weigh in on important matters: Should one read the joke first or place the crown after pulling a Christmas cracker? She also asks – mince pies or ice cream? And, of course, traitor or faithful? The pair also consider which political figure they would want to cover in a political biography. And George reveals whether he and Theresa May still exchange Christmas cards … You could have been listening to this episode of EMQs early and ad-free! And not only that… 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/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. Subscribe now on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

David Cameron is revealed as our very special guest on Inside No 10: David Cameron - The First Six Months, out 30th December.Follow us wherever you get your podcasts to make sure you don’t miss this incredible conversation about what it really takes to run the government. 📺: Watch the trailer now!Plus: An alleged spy scandal that reportedly ensnared Prince Andrew has Ed Balls and George Osborne asking: is it as bad as it looks? Isn’t spying – which the Chinese national in question strongly denies he was doing – just a fact of life? We consider how to balance counterespionage with attempts to build a stronger economic relationship with China.Meanwhile, with 2024 drawing to a close, we review the party leaders’ performance. How worried should Keir Starmer be about the polls? Has he made a rod for his own back in handling the WASPI (Women Against State Pension Inequality) compensation matter? And how’s Kemi Badenoch doing in her new role as Tory leader? And George and Ed hand out their awards for the political highs and lows of the year. Who had the worst speech? Whose was the best? And we review the most memorable moments of 2024, for both the right and the wrong reasons…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 McDaidProducers: Miriam Hall, James Shield and Rosie StopherExecutive Producer: Ellie CliffordPolitical 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.

This week, George Osborne and Ed Balls consider: should economic decisions be confined to the Treasury and the Prime Minister? Or is the room for wider cabinet discussion? Meanwhile, Lyanne Nicholl, the CEO of 50:50 Parliament – an organisation dedicated to driving more female representation in government – asks Ed and George to share their most positive words of wisdom for someone weighing a career in politics. The pair reveal the women they’ve encouraged to go into the government game, and where they think barriers persist. They also mull the costs Britain would face were it to join the customs union – and is a Welsh referendum ever going to be a reality? Plus, they share when mishearing something has led to some political awkwardness all round … 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 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. Subscribe now on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Keir Starmer is working hard to shift the narrative on his government from gloomy tax raiders to optimistic change makers. Ed Balls and George Osborne asses whether he’s leaning too hard into blame. Does he need to stop the finger pointing and get on and deliver?Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria collapsed this week — a sudden, stunning end to the Assad family’s five-decade reign. Ed and George reflect on the Syrian civil war and its impact on their time in politics. What is going on in Downing Street right now, and how should the UK proceed? David Cameron’s deputy security adviser Hugh Powell makes a guest appearance to advise on how to stop the country from descending into conflict. Plus, Emmanuel Macron is dealing with a frozen French parliament and under mounting pressure to appoint a new Prime Minister. After a spectacular Olympics and the grand reopening of Notre Dame, he should be riding high – but are his days in politics now numbered? 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 Rosie StopherExecutive Producer: Ellie CliffordPolitical 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.

Who are the individuals who’ve influenced elections in the same way as Elon Musk? Ed Balls and George Osborne run through some of the great drivers of political results over the years - from people on the street to press barons. Plus, with our Inside The Room miniseries with Nicola Sturgeon now wrapped up, George and Ed take listener questions on the matter of the 2014 referendum and the ongoing, simmering tensions around Scottish independence. Would England be economically better off without Scotland – and why are English politicians so keen to cling to it? Are there parallels between the Scottish independence movement and Brexit – and if so, why won’t the nationalists admit it? 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 Technical Producer: Oliver GeraghtyExecutive 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. Subscribe now on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. Subscribe now on Patreon Hosted 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. 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 [email protected] 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. Subscribe now on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.