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 and not “leave junior ministers out to dry”?

All the while, next week’s budget is causing friction between No. 10 and No. 11 – will Downing Street get the tax cuts they’re hoping for? And how will Jeremy Hunt be preparing for what could be his last budget as chancellor? 

And, is the real issue that the country simply isn’t growing? Prof. Ed Balls is back to explain to George why the government needs to take a regional approach if it wants the economy to boom. 

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Producers: Rosie Stopher 

Production support: Miriam Hall 

Production Manager: Flick Heath

Executive Producers: Dino Sofos and Ellie Clifford

With thanks to the Institute for Fiscal Studies.

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