Political Currency

Has Rishi Sunak survived his first attempted coup? It might look like Simon Clarke’s amounted to nothing but Ed and George think it might be too soon to tell whether he’s failed yet. They have plenty of insights into plots past, and the many ways they can fizzle, burn, or downright engulf a prime minister.Elsewhere in politics, the UK tax burden has been drifting up to a rate not seen since the 1960s. Can any chancellor - current or future - do anything about it?And in Europe, a beleaguered German coalition faces economic problems of their own, plus the looming  rise of the far-right. Is the most stable country in Europe headed towards ‘Dexit’?Follow us on social media: @polcurrencyProducers: Rachel Balmer and Rosie StopherProduction Manager: Flick HeathExecutive Producers: Dino Sofos and 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.

George, leader of the Labour party, joins Ed to discuss crisis management, preparing for PMQs, and changing the monarchy's financing. They also address the accidental kick on live TV and reflect on impactful political ideas that weren't implemented.

Rishi Sunak survived Tory mutiny over the Rwanda policy, but he’s not out of the woods just yet. Ed and George explain why his road to election 2024 still faces huge problems.Meanwhile, George has been in Davos this week. He reveals his celebrity spots - including Sting - as well as the global mood on the economy. But is this more than just a glitzy who’s who? Ed thinks it's a prime opportunity for opposition parties to show they mean business.  And, in America, Donald Trump has claimed victory in the Iowa caucus. It could mean a return to the White House in 2025. Can foreign leaders come back from their scathing attacks and form a new relationship, and should they?Follow us on social media: @polcurrencyProducers: Rachel Balmer and Rosie StopherProduction Manager: Flick HeathExecutive Producers: Dino Sofos and 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.

Welcome to our first edition of EMQs - Ex-Ministers' Questions... see what we did there?. Every Monday, our ex-ministers will take your questions. Ed Balls and George Osborne will also hear from some influential and famous voices.In our first episode: did the Lib Dems agree to ditch their pledge on tuition fees during the coalition talks? What is the Barnett formula and is it fair? And why are Special Advisers such as Dominic Cummings so influential?To send in your questions for next week's episode, email questions@politicalcurrency.co.uk - we love to get your voice notes!Follow us on social media: @polcurrencyProducers: Rachel Balmer and Rosie StopherProduction Manager: Flick HeathExecutive Producers: Dino Sofos and Ellie CliffordPolitical Currency is a Persephonica Production and part of the Acast Creator Network Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

General election fever begins as George reveals the election date. The post office scandal and geopolitical instability are discussed. The role of local MPs in bringing attention to scandals is examined. Speculation and confusion surrounding the election date are explored. The Conservative Party's election strategy and challenges are discussed. Additionally, the upcoming Taiwanese election and its implications are examined.

This podcast delves into the tense negotiations that led to the formation of a coalition government between the Tories and the Lib Dems in the UK. Topics discussed include the moment Gordon Brown was told he had to go, why the Lib Dems decided to join forces with the Tories, and what current political leaders can learn from these negotiations.

Danny Alexander, Chief of Staff for Nick Clegg and Lib Dem lead negotiator during the coalition talks, joins Ed Balls and George Osborne to give first-hand accounts of the high-stakes negotiations. They discuss the formation of a new government, the mood within the Gordon Brown administration, the start of the coalition talks, and the key players and challenges involved. Stay tuned for Part 2 on January 4th.

Ed and George answer questions from some very special guests...Jeremy Hunt asks about the power budgets can have on elections, Stephen Fry grills George on the Elgin Marbles, and Susannah Reid wants to know what Ed and George think is the most significant TV interview they’ve seen. As we head into an election year, they reminisce on their first time as candidates, how they met their big political partners, and Rachel Reeves asks them about their best Christmases in the Treasury.Producer: Rachel BalmerProduction Manager: Flick HeathExecutive Producers: Dino Sofos and 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.

Winter election announced. Conflict in Gaza. Junior doctors' strike. Economy and inflation. Politicians' funding claims. Tory party challenges. Christmas films and gift ideas.

It’s not just Rishi Sunak’s approval rating which has taken a battering. Keir Starmer has his own popularity problem. Why?The so-called ‘five families’ of the Tory party threaten to “go to the mattresses” over the Rwanda bill, but end up bottling it. Is Mark Francois really the next Don Corleone? Ukraine’s President Zelensky has embarked on a world tour, pleading for more money for the Ukraine war. Is it time to rethink their strategy? And why London’s time as the great financial centre of the world might be over.Email: questions@politicalcurrency.co.ukFollow us on social media: @polcurrencyProducers: Rachel Balmer and Rosie StopherProduction Manager: Flick HeathExecutive Producers: Dino Sofos and 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.