EMQs: Is there room for optimism in politics?

Why is New Labour suddenly going viral on TikTok? In this week’s Ex-Ministers’ Questions, Ed Balls and George Osborne respond to their Gen Z fans who are remixing their greatest political moments into social media edits.With Labour conference just finished, Ed and George ask whether Keir Starmer is really a Blairite, a Brownite, or breaking with New Labour altogether. They also debate what Starmer and Rachel Reeves need to do to put Scottish Labour back in contention at the Holyrood elections next May.And before the Conservative conference begins in Manchester, George warns that the second year in opposition is always worse than the first, and sets out how the Tories and Kemi Badenoch might plot a comeback.To get episodes early and ad-free, join Political Currency Gold or the Kitchen Cabinet:👉 patreon.com/politicalcurrency👉 Apple PodcastsPlease note: Kitchen Cabinet is only available via Patreon.Credits:Assistant Producer: Caillin McDaidSenior Producer: Silvia MarescaVideo Editor: Maha Al-BadrawiExecutive Producer: 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.

Keir Starmer went into the Labour Party Conference in a perilous position, fighting off a 'rolling assault' from within his own party. In a make-or-break speech, he shifted his fire from the Conservatives to a new opponent: Nigel Farage. Was this a clever tactic to unite his base and redefine the political battlefield, or a risky gamble that elevates his rival? George Osborne and Ed Balls analyse the strategy, the rhetoric, and whether the speech has truly changed anything outside the conference hall.And a bombshell has landed from Washington: Donald Trump, Benjamin Netanyahu, and the shock return of Tony Blair with a new Gaza peace plan. A week after clashing over whether the UK's role on the discussion around Palestine was irrelevant or a game-changer, Ed and George are back to debate who was right.Meanwhile, Chancellor Rachel Reeves quietly floats a major change to the UK’s economic rulebook, proposing to scrap one of the OBR's two annual forecasts. Ed and George unpack a seemingly technical move with huge consequences for Britain's economic credibility.To get episodes early and ad-free, join Political Currency Gold or the Kitchen Cabinet:👉 patreon.com/politicalcurrency👉 Apple PodcastsPlease note: Kitchen Cabinet is only available via Patreon.Credits:Assistant Producer: Caillin McDaidSenior Producer: Silvia MarescaVideo Editor: Maha Al-BadrawiExecutive Producer: 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.

When does a party conference go well? And when does disaster strike? Ahead of the main party conferences, Ed Balls and George Osborne dive into their memories to reveal what really happens behind the scenes.From George's first job as a Tory 'observer' faxing Tony Blair's speeches to No. 10, to Ed staying up so late he saw the breakfast TV crews setting up, they share the ultimate insider's guide to navigating this political “goldfish bowl”.The pair are joined by special contributors with their own incredible stories: Lord Eric Pickles on his bizarre role managing Denis Thatcher's applause; Sir Oliver Letwin with a powerful, first-hand account of the 1984 Brighton bombing; and journalist Nick Robinson on the moment he confronted a furious Prime Minister. Plus, Ed and George discuss what separates a good conference from a disastrous one, and why you should always be careful what you say in the lift…To get episodes early and ad-free, join Political Currency Gold or the Kitchen Cabinet:👉 patreon.com/politicalcurrency👉 Apple PodcastsPlease note: Kitchen Cabinet is only available via Patreon.Credits:Assistant Producer: Caillin McDaidSenior Producer: Silvia MarescaVideo Editor: Oliver Geraghty Executive Producer: 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.

Donald Trump's wild speech at the UN General Assembly has done more than just cause a diplomatic headache; it's exposed the deep tensions simmering just below the surface of Keir Starmer's government.His attack on Sadiq Khan saw senior ministers like Wes Streeting and Shabana Mahmood scrambling to respond, raising the question: in a party rife with leadership speculation, is loyalty still the best strategy? With mounting speculation that Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham is gearing up for a leadership challenge, Ed Balls and George Osborne dig into the manoeuvres and what they signal about the stability of Starmer's leadership, in a week where the UK also made its historic move to recognise the Palestinian state.Meanwhile, another great challenge looms for the government: the economy. With a reported £30 billion fiscal hole to fill, could a controversial wealth tax be the answer? And as the government seeks to respond to pressure on migration, is a return to ID cards the right move? George thinks the time has come for a digital identity scheme, but Ed is deeply sceptical it can work…To get episodes early and ad-free, join Political Currency Gold or the Kitchen Cabinet:👉 patreon.com/politicalcurrency👉 Apple PodcastsPlease note: Kitchen Cabinet is only available via Patreon.Credits:Assistant Producer: Caillin McDaidSenior Producer: Silvia MarescaVideo Editor: Oliver Geraghty Executive Producer: 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.

Richard Curtis, rom-com extraordinaire who put Notting Hill on the map is asking a question this week: he wants to know what areas Ed Balls and George Osborne are seeing progress and hope. Doom, gloom and cynicism are on hold - for a week, at least - for the pair to consider some more optimistic matters. Ed is hopeful about advancements on taking on diseases, while George considers the steps technology has improved people’s lives.Meanwhile, Sadiq Khan asks about what they love most about London (spoiler: the tube gets a mention), and Seyi Akiwowo, the director of Glitch, a non-profit organisation campaigning to end online abuse, gets Ed and George thinking about hopeful advice for those casting their first vote and finding their political voice.To get episodes early and ad-free, join Political Currency Gold or the Kitchen Cabinet:👉 patreon.com/politicalcurrency👉 Apple PodcastsPlease note: Kitchen Cabinet is only available via Patreon.Credits:Producer: Miriam HallSenior Producer: Silvia MarescaVideo Editor: Oliver Geraghty Executive Producer: 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.

President Donald Trump is in town, so it’s back to Windsor Castle for our Ed Balls! A podcast recording the morning after a lavish state banquet? Not a problem, it’s all par for the course for Ed, who has apparently been catching up on Downton Abbey in preparation. He brought George Osborne up to speed on the events of the evening; who sat where and did he get to say hello to the 47th president? It’s hard to believe the US President’s visit could be considered a reprieve for Prime Minister Keir Starmer after a grueling two weeks back from summer recess. Soon after Angela Rayner made her sudden, tax-enforced exit the government faced its next drama: US Ambassador Peter Mandelson and his long, email-documented friendship with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. A deputy leadership contest, scrutiny over Mandelson vetting process and - in recent days - questions over whether Andy Burnham is gunning for Starmer’s job… It should be catnip for leader of the Tories, Kemi Badenoch - except Danny Kruger’s gone and spoiled it by defecting to Reform! Meanwhile, the Federal Reserve has cut rates for the first time this year - while the Bank of England is holding firm at 4%. Ed and George  take stock of the global economic position and what's next for the bond market after its moment of tumult earlier this month … To get episodes early and ad-free, join Political Currency Gold or the Kitchen Cabinet:👉 patreon.com/politicalcurrency👉 Apple PodcastsPlease note: Kitchen Cabinet is only available via Patreon.Credits:Producer: Miriam HallSenior Producer: Silvia MarescaVideo Editor: Oliver Geraghty Executive Producer: 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.

What really happens in the frantic first 24 hours of a new government job? This week on Ex-Ministers’ Questions, Ed Balls and George Osborne lift the lid on the art of political survival. From the scramble of last-minute briefings to the insider secrets government drivers know before their ministers do, they swap stories on navigating the chaos of a reshuffle.Then it’s from the Cabinet Office to the kitchen, as George grills Ed on one of Westminster’s most notorious culinary conspiracies: Lasagna-gate. Was that dinner party at the Balls-Cooper house really a covert plot to bring down Ed Miliband?And after serving up some advice for a new podcasting rival, the duo look ahead: could a robot outshine a human as a political speechwriter? They put it to the test in real time, asking AI to pen a Shakespearean sonnet on the spot. The result? You’ll have to hear it to believe it…To get episodes early and ad-free, join Political Currency Gold or the Kitchen Cabinet:👉 patreon.com/politicalcurrency👉 Apple PodcastsPlease note: Kitchen Cabinet is only available via Patreon.Credits:Producer: Miriam HallSenior Producer: Silvia MarescaVideo Editor: Oliver Geraghty Executive Producer: 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.

Peter Mandelson, the so-called “Prince of Darkness” got sacked this morning, thanks to fresh revelations of his lengthy friendship with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Now all eyes are turning to his replacement … Could George Osborne himself be getting the call up for US Ambassador?He and Ed Balls consider what this sudden, inglorious end for Mandelson’s diplomatic career means for the government. How could this affect the all-important upcoming state visit from US President Donald Trump, who himself is facing questions around his links to Epstein? It’s not the only tumult for Keir Starmer’s government, that was hoping to reset its way into a calmer period. The deputy leadership contest in the wake of Angela Rayner’s resignation is underway. Ed and George consider if this may be a bigger problem for Starmer than was bargained for? Could Bridget Phillipson vs. Lucy Powell in fact be a proxy for Keir Starmer vs. Andy Burnham?To get episodes early and ad-free, join Political Currency Gold or the Kitchen Cabinet:👉 patreon.com/politicalcurrency👉 Apple PodcastsPlease note: Kitchen Cabinet is only available via Patreon.Credits:Producer: Miriam HallSenior Producer: Silvia MarescaVideo Editor: Oliver Geraghty Executive Producer: 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.

How should a politician respond when a voter blames all their problems on immigration? In this week's Ex-Ministers' Questions, Ed Balls and George Osborne offer competing strategies for handling difficult conversations on the doorstep. They also tackle a stark warning from a Gen Z listener: is the political establishment's failure to listen pushing an entire generation of young people towards Nigel Farage?Then, the pair turn to the insider's playbook of political survival. They debate the pros and cons of the 'chicken run' - is it cowardly for a senior MP to abandon a marginal seat for a safe one, or simply smart politics? Ed reflects on his own experience of staying to fight a losing battle, while George makes the case for jumping ship.Plus, a listener's confession about leaking a story to a newspaper diary column prompts a hilarious look at political gaffes. Ed is forced to relive the moment his ministerial car door hit a pedestrian, and shares a mortifying story involving a fellow minister and a pole dancing pole.To get episodes early and ad-free, join Political Currency Gold or the Kitchen Cabinet:👉 patreon.com/politicalcurrency👉 Apple PodcastsPlease note: Kitchen Cabinet is only available via Patreon.Credits:Producer: Jarek Zaba Senior Producer: Silvia MarescaAssistant Producer: Miriam Hall Video Editor: Oliver Geraghty Executive Producer: 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.

Politics is back with a bang, and so are Ed Balls and George Osborne. As Keir Starmer declares "phase two" of his government, he's immediately engulfed by a scandal that threatens his Deputy Prime Minister, Angela Rayner. In this episode, Ed and George dissect her complicated tax affairs, the accusations of hypocrisy, and the difficult choice facing the Prime Minister: is she too powerful to sack?Next, they unpack how Nigel Farage and Reform UK managed to dominate the entire summer. While the government was on holiday, Farage set the agenda on immigration, crime, and free speech. Ed and George explore how he did it, why the government and opposition struggled to respond, and how it fuels the dangerous "drain the swamp" narrative that ‘they're all as bad as each other’.Plus, the pair turn to Starmer's attempt to reset with a major reshuffle of his Downing Street operation. With a new comms chief, top economic advisors, and the creation of a brand-new role - Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister - will this shake-up provide the grip and purpose the government desperately needs? Or are they just rearranging the deckchairs?To get episodes early and ad-free, join Political Currency Gold or the Kitchen Cabinet:👉 patreon.com/politicalcurrency👉 Apple PodcastsPlease note: Kitchen Cabinet is only available via Patreon.Credits:Producer: Jarek Zaba Senior Producer: Silvia MarescaAssistant Producer: Miriam Hall Video Editor: Oliver Geraghty Executive Producer: 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.