Sue Gray: Why working under Keir Starmer became ‘unbearable’

The third of our exclusive summer interviews sees Ed Balls sit down with the former Chief of Staff for No. 10 Sue Gray. In her first major interview since her dramatic split from Keir Starmer’s team, she details the lead up to entering Downing Street and just where things went wrong. Gray explains how she tried to prepare Starmer’s team for government in 2023, where things went wrong at the beginning, and what it’s like to be on the receiving end of an internal briefing war. In this tense and emotional conversation, she shares her raw reflections two years on and why things were not working at the top of government.Born in Tottenham to immigrant Irish parents, they also discuss her background, her meteoric rise through the civil service and what went on behind the scenes with her report into Partygate and the end of Boris Johnson. We love hearing from you, so please don’t forget to send all your EMQs to questions@politicalcurrency and make sure to include a voice note of your question or send a question to our social media handles:👉 X👉 Instagram👉 TikTokThanks for listening. To get episodes early and ad- free join Political Currency Gold or our Kitchen Cabinet. If you want even more perks including our exclusive newsletter, join our Kitchen Cabinet today:👉 patreon.com/politicalcurrency👉 Apple PodcastsPlease note: Kitchen Cabinet is only available via Patreon.Credits:Production: Sam Burton & Nasreen ArainProducer: Caillin McDaidVideo Editor: Sam GruetExecutive Producer: Henrietta HarrisonPolitical Currency is a Persephonica Production and is part of the Acast Creator Network. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week’s themed EMQs is all about America. Ed Balls and George Osborne reflect on their memories of the US from the Founding Fathers right through to Trump. They first consider whether the MAGA worldview is baked into American politics, particularly on an international level, and will affect things like NATO for decades to come.Amol Rajan, from the Today Programme, then poses an idea for Andy Burnham to borrow from the sitting President: Trump Accounts. This harkens back to New Labour’s child trust funds, which George cut whilst chancellor. Could this idea work again in Britain? Or was there a reason it was disbanded under Cameron.Finally, they delve into the What If realm: who is the best President there never was?  From the Kennedys, to Gore, to Hamilton, the pair reflect on the people who could have made the best impact in the White House. They also reflect on which previous Democratic President would have had the best chance of beating Trump in an election.We love hearing from you, so please don’t forget to send all your EMQs to questions@politicalcurrency and make sure to include a voice note of your question or send a question to our social media handles:👉 X👉 Instagram👉 TikTokThanks for listening. To get episodes early and ad- free join Political Currency Gold or our Kitchen Cabinet. If you want even more perks including our exclusive newsletter, join our Kitchen Cabinet today:👉 patreon.com/politicalcurrency👉 Apple PodcastsPlease note: Kitchen Cabinet is only available via Patreon.Credits:Production: Sam Burton & Nasreen ArainProducer: Caillin McDaid Video Editor: Sam GruetExecutive Producer: Henrietta HarrisonPolitical Currency is a Persephonica Production and is part of the Acast Creator Network. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our second summer interview sees George Osborne sit down with the new Health Secretary and one of Labour’s most experienced ministers, Yvette Cooper. She was the first minister to take maternity leave and is of course George’s podcasting partner’s other half. They talk about her nearly 30 years as an MP, how politics has changed and what it was like being in cabinet with her husband Ed Balls. They also discuss her new brief, how she plans to tackle Britain’s social care crisis and her plans to prioritise families. She explains how Andy Burnham’s leadership style differs from Keir Starmer’s and why those differences contributed to the latter's struggles as prime minister.  They delve into how she’s stayed at the top of Labour, across almost 30 years and the challenges keeping their family life private while being public figures. We love hearing from you, so please don’t forget to send all your EMQs to questions@politicalcurrency and make sure to include a voice note of your question or send a question to our social media handles:👉 X👉 Instagram👉 TikTokThanks for listening. To get episodes early and ad- free join Political Currency Gold or our Kitchen Cabinet. If you want even more perks including our exclusive newsletter, join our Kitchen Cabinet today:👉 patreon.com/politicalcurrency👉 Apple PodcastsPlease note: Kitchen Cabinet is only available via Patreon.Credits:Production: Sam Burton & Nasreen ArainProducer: Caillin McDaid Video Editor: Louis NorrisExecutive Producer: Henrietta HarrisonPolitical Currency is a Persephonica Production and is part of the Acast Creator Network. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this media themed episode of EMQs, Ed Balls and George Osborne dip into the archive of questions from the past year to put all things media and politics into the spotlight. Fellow podcasters Jane Garvey and Fi Glover send in a question to find out why there are no interviewers quite like Brian Walden anymore, and whether biographies assisted by AI should be labelled as such in future.Ed and George then look to the past to get some inspiration for the future, with a listener asking which political biographies give us the best indication of just how history may rhyme in the coming years. They then name the best political journalists from their time in politics, and who left the biggest impact in the day to day of government.Finally, the pair are challenged on whether podcasts like this one are what really doomed Keir Starmer. Was Ed saying how he would have done things differently too destabilising? Or, was the fall of the Starmer government inevitable no matter how much commentary there was?We love hearing from you, so please don’t forget to send all your EMQs to questions@politicalcurrency and make sure to include a voice note of your question or send a question to our social media handles:👉 X👉 Instagram👉 TikTokThanks for listening. To get episodes early and ad- free join Political Currency Gold or our Kitchen Cabinet. If you want even more perks including our exclusive newsletter, join our Kitchen Cabinet today:👉 patreon.com/politicalcurrency👉 Apple PodcastsPlease note: Kitchen Cabinet is only available via Patreon.Credits:Production: Sam Burton & Nasreen ArainProducer: Caillin McDaid  Video Editor: Sam GruetExecutive Producer: Henrietta HarrisonPolitical 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 first of our summer interviews, Ed Balls sits down with Kemi Badenoch, leader of Conservative Party and Leader of the Opposition. The wide ranging interview begins with her Nigerian upbringing, coming to the UK at 16, and how that informs her immigration policy.Badenoch also details just how different her Conservative party is from not only Labour and Reform, but also the party that lost the 2024 election. How has watching the fall of four Tory prime ministers shaped her leadership? And how does it stand apart from the ‘victim mentality of Farage and the left? She goes on to explain why the last Tory government didn’t grip the grooming gang issue, the build up to sacking Robert Jenrick, and her strategy to bring the Conservatives back to power at the next election.We love hearing from you, so please don’t forget to send all your EMQs to questions@politicalcurrency and make sure to include a voice note of your question or send a question to our social media handles:👉 X👉 Instagram👉 TikTokThanks for listening. To get episodes early and ad- free join Political Currency Gold or our Kitchen Cabinet. If you want even more perks including our exclusive newsletter, join our Kitchen Cabinet today:👉 patreon.com/politicalcurrency👉 Apple PodcastsPlease note: Kitchen Cabinet is only available via Patreon.Credits:Production: Sam Burton Producer: Caillin McDaid Video Editor: Oliver GeraghtyExecutive Producer: Henrietta HarrisonPolitical Currency is a Persephonica Production and is part of the Acast Creator Network. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Grimsby MP Melanie Onn sends in a question for this week's EMQs, querying why George went straight to Grimsby as a challenge for devolution in a recent episode. The pair delve into challenges facing Andy Burnham’s devolution agenda, and how past governments have failed and succeeded in addressing these disparities.A listener then poses a question: is Britain lazier than other countries? And, is that stalling our growth? George and Ed compare our outlook to work in comparison to superpowers like China or the US, as well as our European counterparts. George even tells a story of a pre-president Macron.They reminisce on Labour’s final shadow cabinet elections, and the heavyweights elected, their biggest sliding door moments, and why the left seemingly has a monopoly on climate issues. Look forward to our summer interviews beginning on Thursday, where Ed speaks to Tory leader Kemi Badenoch, and even asks her about climate issues. Look forward to more interviews throughout August, as well as special themed EMQs.We love hearing from you, so please don’t forget to send all your EMQs to questions@politicalcurrency and make sure to include a voice note of your question or send a question to our social media handles:👉 X👉 Instagram👉 TikTokThanks for listening. To get episodes early and ad- free join Political Currency Gold or our Kitchen Cabinet. If you want even more perks including our exclusive newsletter, join our Kitchen Cabinet today:👉 patreon.com/politicalcurrency👉 Apple PodcastsPlease note: Kitchen Cabinet is only available via Patreon.Credits:Production: Sam Burton & Nasreen ArainProducer: Caillin McDaid Video Editor: Sam GruetExecutive Producer: Henrietta HarrisonPolitical Currency is a Persephonica Production and is part of the Acast Creator Network. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Week two of the Andy Burnham premiership has come with a honeymoon and polling bounce. Ed Balls and George Osborne look at how he’s returned to a more collaborative approach with his cabinet, and the comms strategy which has seen pork scratchings become an international talking point. But what bigger political strategy is Burnham building? Despite protestations, is he still weighing up a General Election while his opponents are down?George felt many of Burnham’s initial policies were ‘small beer’ and lacked a big feeling. That wasn't the case this week with massive reforms to education and social care brought forward by the PM. But can they succeed? Both have been issues for successive governments, yet never solved. They caution that social care will be difficult to build without a strong narrative, and true cross-party consensus.Finally, as always, the buck still stops with the US. With new Fed Chair Kevin Warsh announcing no change to interest rates yesterday, it raises the question on how much the cost of living can improve in the US or UK. It also calls into question just what kind of Fed chair Warsh will be. Is he going to be too dovish? Or will he live up to his previous rhetoric?We love hearing from you, so please don’t forget to send all your EMQs to questions@politicalcurrency and make sure to include a voice note of your question or send a question to our social media handles:👉 X👉 Instagram👉 TikTokThanks for listening. To get episodes early and ad- free join Political Currency Gold or our Kitchen Cabinet. If you want even more perks including our exclusive newsletter, join our Kitchen Cabinet today:👉 patreon.com/politicalcurrency👉 Apple PodcastsPlease note: Kitchen Cabinet is only available via Patreon.Credits:Production: Sam Burton & Nasreen ArainProducer: Caillin McDaid Video Editor: Sam GruetExecutive Producer: Henrietta HarrisonPolitical Currency is a Persephonica Production and is part of the Acast Creator Network. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard is our first questioner on this week’s EMQs, asking whether other MPs will follow in Andy Burnham’s footsteps and leave Westminster to become mayors. Ed Balls and George Osborne speak about the career opportunities that could come with these positions and how they can uniquely prepare you for No. 10 more than any cabinet role can.A civil servant then enquires why Burnham’s reshuffle took so long, and what MPs are thinking during the tense hours that follow one. Ed recounts his own anxiety when first entering government, while George explains the complications in moving ministers who are not keen for new jobs and how governments stop the house of cards from toppling. They also give advice on how to pick the right college at Oxford, recalling their own time at school. The pair then reflect on the behind the scenes debates that led to the vote for equal marriage in 2013, with George venting long held frustrations at some MPs for their opposition... We love hearing from you, so please don’t forget to send all your EMQs to questions@politicalcurrency and make sure to include a voice note of your question or send a question to our social media handles:👉 X👉 Instagram👉 TikTokThanks for listening. To get episodes early and ad- free join Political Currency Gold or our Kitchen Cabinet. If you want even more perks including our exclusive newsletter, join our Kitchen Cabinet today:👉 patreon.com/politicalcurrency👉 Apple PodcastsPlease note: Kitchen Cabinet is only available via Patreon.Credits:Research: Sam BurtonProducer: Caillin McDaidVideo Editor: Sam GruetExecutive Producer: Henrietta HarrisonPolitical Currency is a Persephonica Production and is part of the Acast Creator Network. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A new dawn has broken, with the Andy Burnham premiership finally beginning. Ed Balls and George Osborne dive deep into the packed first week of PM Burnham, from his first words at Downing Street, to his massive reshuffle, and initial policy announcements. Is he being too ambitious out of the gate? Can he do politics differently? Will this really be a circuit breaker for Britain?The big surprise of Burnham’s cabinet is also the biggest role: Chancellor John Healey. Why did he go for the ex-defence secretary rather than presumed frontrunners Ed Miliband or Shabana Mahmood? Ed and George recall their own memories of Healey to assess whether he will be a creature of the Treasury or make the Treasury his creature. They also speculate whether these initial announcements could lay the groundwork for an Autumn election…Finally, despite the best efforts of the new PM and chancellor, global conflicts will determine what they can do. With the situation in Iran heating up once more, how will Burnham respond to foreign dilemmas? Is appointing Ed Miliband a canny move or will it spark new conflict with the Trump White House? We love hearing from you, so please don’t forget to send all your EMQs to questions@politicalcurrency and make sure to include a voice note of your question or send a question to our social media handles:👉 X👉 Instagram👉 TikTokThanks for listening. To get episodes early and ad- free join Political Currency Gold or our Kitchen Cabinet. If you want even more perks including our exclusive newsletter, join our Kitchen Cabinet today:👉 patreon.com/politicalcurrency👉 Apple PodcastsPlease note: Kitchen Cabinet is only available via Patreon.Credits:Research: Sam BurtonProducer: Caillin McDaidVideo Editor: Sam GruetExecutive Producer: Henrietta HarrisonPolitical Currency is a Persephonica Production and is part of the Acast Creator Network. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Ed Balls and George Osborne hear from a current and former Member of Parliament. Former Tory minister Greg Clark asks if Andy Burnham’s pledge for ‘devolution in every postcode’ is attainable, while Starmer loyalist John Slinger puts forward his proposals for a ‘youth triple lock’ to improve prospects for young people in the UK. Should there be guarantees on above-inflation maintenance loans and free bus travel? And should there be youth advisors in all government departments? Ed and George praise the initiative behind the idea.The pair also hear from a London cyclist frustrated by a council's ban on Lime bikes, the question is: has some devolution given away too much control? George recalls his approaches to devolution during the coalition government, while Ed evaluates the regulation of e-bike rentals.And lastly, Ed and George explain why politicians resist apologising - citing Nick Clegg’s now infamous apology on student loans as an example. Can senior politicians ever recover from apologising about a decision they have made?We love hearing from you, so please don’t forget to send all your EMQs to questions@politicalcurrency and make sure to include a voice note of your question or send a question to our social media handles:👉 X👉 Instagram👉 TikTokThanks for listening. To get episodes early and ad- free join Political Currency Gold or our Kitchen Cabinet. If you want even more perks including our exclusive newsletter, join our Kitchen Cabinet today:👉 patreon.com/politicalcurrency👉 Apple PodcastsPlease note: Kitchen Cabinet is only available via Patreon.Credits:Research: Sam BurtonProduction: Caillin McDaid & Nasreen ArainVideo Editor: Sam GruetExecutive Producer: Ellie Clifford & Henrietta HarrisonPolitical Currency is a Persephonica Production and is part of the Acast Creator Network. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.