EMQS: Boris' book, private planes and positive discrimination
Feb 26, 2024
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Former politicians Ed Balls and George Osborne tackle the topics of Boris Johnson's upcoming book, private plane usage, and positive discrimination in politics. They discuss the implications of Johnson's memoirs, the ethics of private flights, and the effectiveness of positive discrimination measures.
Boris Johnson's upcoming book 'Unleashed' could impact Tory leadership, positive discrimination aids gender diversity in politics.
Deep dives
Discussion on Upcoming Boris Johnson Memoirs
The podcast episode explores the provisional title of Boris Johnson's upcoming memoirs, 'Unleashed.' The hosts discuss the potential impact of the book's release on the Tory leadership and their election campaign. They highlight the significance of memoirs in shaping political narratives and the potential challenges they may pose for the Conservative Party.
Encouraging More Women into Politics
The hosts delve into the importance of encouraging more women to enter politics and the impact of personal attacks and stigma faced by women MPs. They emphasize the role of positive discrimination, such as all-women shortlists, in promoting gender diversity in political representation. The episode reflects on the historical changes in women's representation in the House of Commons and the challenges women still face in balancing political careers with personal life.
Impact of Fuel Duty Decisions
The podcast discusses the political challenges surrounding fuel duty escalators and the reluctance to raise fuel duty in recent years. The hosts recount historical events, such as the fuel tanker dispute during Tony Blair's government, affecting policy decisions. They analyze the financial implications of freezing fuel duty and the potential revenue losses associated with maintaining lower fuel duty rates. The episode also explores the complexities of fuel duty policies and their impact on government revenues.
Significance of Political Columnists
The episode delves into the influence of political columnists and their roles in shaping public opinion and political narratives. The hosts categorize columnists into different types based on their commentary styles, such as Oracle commentators, critic columnists, arbiter columnists, and inside economists. They underscore the importance of columnists in providing insights into political affairs and influencing public discourse. The episode highlights the diverse roles played by various columnists and the impact of their analyses on political dynamics.
Is Boris Johnson's forthcoming book going to cause Rishi Sunak another headache? Is it acceptable for political leaders to take private planes? And does positive discrimination ever work in politics? Ed Balls and George Osborne answer these questions and more in our latest instalment of EMQs.
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Producers: Rosie Stopher and Nathan Copelin
Production support: Miriam Hall
Production Manager: Flick Heath
Executive Producers: Dino Sofos and Ellie Clifford
Political Currency is a Persephonica Production and is part of the Acast Creator Network