Political Currency

Rishi Sunak lives to fight another day after some terrible local election results. But as he loses yet another MP to Labour, Ed Balls and George Osborne ask whether it might be time to play a new strategy and try acting the underdog. Meanwhile, whilst Labour had a markedly better weekend, it didn’t quite indicate the 1997-style landslide they might be hoping for in the next general election. Is Ke...

It’s polling day. Ed Balls and George Osborne give their expert analysis on the importance of local elections: what contests do you need to look out for? And what do they reveal about Rishi Sunak’s political fortunes? Across the border, the Scottish National Party is in turmoil after First Minister Humza Yousaf resigned. Could this open the door to a Labour resurgence in Scotland? Speaking of, the...

It’s the most auspicious day of the year: Ed Balls Day. To celebrate, George has got his Ed Balls mask out (not a euphemism), and is ready to go Inside the Room. Just kidding. But he has in fact organised some questions from Ed’s nearest and not-so dearest.  Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves asks about Ed’s favourite Gregg’s order. Bandmate and Political Journalist Robert Peston wants to know w...

After two years, Rishi Sunak can finally celebrate a Rwanda victory as his bill passes in parliament - but Ed Balls and George Osborne can’t help noticing it’s been somewhat overshadowed by an announcement on defence spending. Is the government playing with fudged figures? And is it even worthwhile as far as voters are concerned? St George’s Day saw an unexpected new poster boy this week - and no,...

Is the role of a PPS more than just a ‘bag carrier’ and when has it gone wrong? If Ed and George could have a cardboard cut out of any politician who would it be? And BBC Radio 4’s Amol Rajan asks Ed about Joe Biden’s stammer. Should the American President talk more openly about his speech impediment?  Plus, is the rise of the smartphone to blame for us all being less productive? And should 1...

It should have finally been a bumper week for Rishi Sunak - with inflation down, a win for his smoking ban and with success on his Rwanda legislation within sight. But instead, would-be Tory leaders have been hogging the limelight. Liz Truss is back with a vengeance. Could her ‘Trump-style’ return to form see her reinstated as head of the party? Or is it Kemi Badenoch’s time to shine? Why has her...

Ed Balls and George Osborne were Inside the Room with Michael Gove last week to deep dive into the Brexit plots - and now they’re facing your questions on the moment that changed British politics forever.  What happened to all the voters the EU referendum coaxed out of the woodwork? Are women ignored in the retelling of those tumultuous days of 2016? And what can historical parallels tell us...

Another week, another scandal surrounding the Conservatives. But this time of the honey trapping variety. Ed and George discuss the dating app scam that has ensnared at least one MP.  Meanwhile, Labour is having a difficult time stamping out persistent claims the party’s Deputy Leader Angela Rayner dodged tax on a house sale. George says if she stumbles, all the Conservatives want to see her...

The result is in, and in the words of David Dimbleby, ‘we’re out’. But whilst the Brexit referendum draws a line under the campaign period, it sets the stage for chaos in the lives of our insiders. In this final episode of 'Inside the Room: The Brexit Plots', Ed Balls and George Osborne grill Michael Gove on the Conservative leadership contest that followed David Cameron’s resignation, and what (o...

As the Leave and Remain campaigns get underway, it seems that the Remain camp has a clear lead. That is, until it doesn’t.  In this second instalment of Inside the Room: The Brexit Plot, Michael Gove, Ed Balls and George Osborne take us behind the scenes of the ever-more-panicked campaign HQs as polling day draws in. Part 3 of 'Inside The Room: The Brexit Plots' is exclusively available to li...

Brexit was the issue that splintered British politics: Friendships were broken, political parties split, and a nation polarised by the EU referendum. We all know what the outcome was, but in this special miniseries, Ed Balls and George Osborne are joined by Michael Gove - the ultimate Leave campaign insider - to discover what really went on behind the scenes of the biggest political shakeup of the...

Parliament may be heading into recess, but there’s little time for holidaying as the political parties are heading straight into local election campaigning after Easter. Ed Balls and George Osborne take stock of how those campaigns are shaping up, who and what to watch out for, and how the results might change the Westminster mood. Is the BBC in danger again? And this time it’s from inside. After...

The latest polling predicts Conservative armageddon in the next election. But do these polls matter? George reveals why the Tories are still banking on winning over those ‘don’t know’ voters.  They’ll have a mountain to climb, with growing fears of coordinated tactical voting. Will it work as a strategy, and have Ed and George ever dared to vote for another party?  And when Taylor Swift...

Rishi Sunak is on a mission to prove his political fortunes are turning round… despite a long list of headaches. How can he get out of the political spiral he’s in? George and Ed pick over some lessons from Prime Ministers past…  He’d do well to heed their words. On the Labour side, Rachel Reeves had made another big play for the role of chancellor, giving the Mais lecture. Is ‘securonomics’...

Is legalising cannabis the answer to the hole in Labour’s financial plans? Are fiscal rules there to be broken? And, in light of the infamous royal photography fail, can Ed and George think of other times a photograph has landed a public figure in hot water? Of course they can - sorry Prime Minister! Got a question for Ed and George? Send a voice note to questions@politicalcurrency.co.uk Producer:...

Michael Gove is rolling out his new definition of extremism this week, to the chagrin of people across the political spectrum. Ed and George weigh in on whether this will have any impact in keeping the UK safe, or whether it will threaten to divide the country further. Unfortunately for Gove, a major Tory donor undermined the whole message with his own extreme comments about Diane Abbott. Should t...

How does Donald Trump’s popularity endure, in spite of all his misdemeanours, and might Nigel Farage be taking notes? What is universal basic income and could it ever work in the UK? And George addresses recent claims that his little birdies in Downing Street have been found out…  Ed and George are back answering more of your questions on EMQs. Have you got a burning issue you’d like them to...

With the budget behind us, Ed pushes George on whether he’s still backing a November election. Tory sources are saying there’s a push from the centre of the party to send the country to the polls in May, but George has pretty strong views on what kind of idea that would be ….  Meanwhile, Lord David Cameron is making lists and taking risks. The Foreign Secretary just celebrated 100 days in off...

Is this the budget that turns the Tories’ fortunes?  Ed and George have been poised for this day for weeks: budget day! They give their immediate reaction to Jeremy Hunt’s (final?) spending plans, consider whether it meets the tests they set out on last week's episode, and they answer your questions. This episode was originally broadcast LIVE on YouTube. Make sure you’re following us on socia...

It's Budget week. Do Ed and George wish they were back in Parliament? And what's the secret to making it through the speech? Plus they answer lots more of your questions, from whether Rachel Reeves is right to be thinking about reinstating the pensions lifetime allowance, to the mystery of what happened to the infamous EdStone... Be sure to follow us on our socials @polcurrency and join us at 3pm...

George reveals it was Sajid Javid who told Rishi Sunak to strip Lee Anderson of the whip , after comments that have been slammed as Islamophobic and hate speech . But on the broadcast rounds, the Conservative party line is to stop short, saying the “words were wrong” – over and over and over again. How would George and Ed tackle the furore, and why do they think Rishi Sunak should take a hard line...

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. Send your questions for future episodes to questions@politicalcurrency.co.uk Follow us on social media: @p...

Chaos reigns supreme in Parliament this week after a tabled Labour amendment led to calls for Speaker of the House Lindsay Hoyle to resign. Is it really as big a deal as has been made out? Or is it a huge mess for the Speaker to overcome? Why isn’t the economy front and centre in this election year? It is on Political Currency! This week Ed Balls and George Osborne focus on housing policy. Will el...

Ed Balls and George Osborne answer more of your Ex-Minister’s Questions. Speaking of ex-ministers, Nick Boles, wants to know if there’s still an opportunity for anyone except Trump and Biden in the race for POTUS... And what about Labour’s proposed VAT on private school fees - will it cause a state school influx? Is the left a bit ‘male’ as George alleges? Ed isn’t convinced. Plus, they both...

The United Kingdom has fallen into recession… technically . It couldn’t be worse timing for the Sunak government, which will now have this gloomy economic news - already dubbed ‘Rishession’ - hanging over its head for the next three months. What would Ed and George do next? Meanwhile, Labour has been battling a crisis of its own, as it’s embroiled in another row over anti-semitism in the party. Ha...