With Donald Trump back in the White House as of Monday, leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey has called in to ask: In strengthening the nation's negotiating hand with the new American leadership, is there a case for rejoining the EU customs union? George Osborne and Ed Balls discuss whether he's on to something - and whether there's any way it could happen under a Starmer government.

Meanwhile, the PM wants to supercharge the UK’s Artificial Intelligence capabilities – but should that be top of mind when the nation’s essential workers like teachers and nurses are still working with ailing technology?

Plus, the pair consider the viability – and morality – of a universal basic income. Would it reduce poverty? Or lead to laziness? 

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Production support: Caillin McDaid

Technical Producer: Oliver Geraghty

Producer: Rosie Stopher and Miriam Hall 

Executive Producers: Ellie Clifford 

Political Currency is a Persephonica Production and is part of the Acast Creator Network. 

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After a tough week, Keir Starmer’s been forced to publicly proclaim Rachel Reeves has his full support – and to hose down suggestions she won’t make the full parliament. Ed Balls and George Osborne weigh in on just how politically fatal it would be to ditch a Chancellor six months into the Labour leadership. 

The second Trump presidency is now a matter of days away, so how will this new American political era play out on the world stage? Why are some Trump opponents approaching the Trump sequel with more acceptance this time around? 

Finally, Ed and George are sharing their predictions for the looming annual World Economic Forum conference in Davos. This year, it’s coinciding with another big event – the US Presidential Inauguration. Has Davos become less relevant in recent years? How will issues like climate and DEI be addressed in response to the incoming President?

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Producers: Caillin McDaid, Miriam Hall and Rosie Stopher

Technical Producer: Oliver Geraghty

Executive Producer: Ellie Clifford

Political Currency is a Persephonica Production and is part of the Acast Creator Network.

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George Osborne and Ed Balls are back for their first round of questions of the year, ready to mull the big conundrums of 2025! Craig Oliver, former director of Politics and Communications in David Cameron’s No 10, asks the pair to weigh in on the upcoming Trump Presidency. Do we need to take him seriously – and literally – this time around? 

In the wake of our Inside No 10: David Cameron - The First Six Months series, should Labour have taken a leaf from the Cameron/Osborne era and painted a fuller picture of their economic approach while in opposition? And, Ed and George consider Keir Starmer’s national security adviser – is there anything amiss with the appointment of Jonathan Powell? Or does it make sense? 

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Production support: Caillin McDaid

Technical Producer: Will Gibson Smith

Producer: Rosie Stopher, James Shield and Miriam Hall 

Executive Producers: Dino Sofos

Political Currency is a Persephonica Production and is part of the Acast Creator Network. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Is Rachel Reeves starting 2025 with a bond market headache? Ed Balls and George Osborne explain how global trends and UK inflation might just mean she’s boxed herself in… again. 

Meanwhile, Elon Musk’s growing interest in British politics – and hatred of Keir Starmer – has erupted into a row over the grooming gangs scandal. What would Ed and George do in Starmer’s position? And what are the long and short term political implications for Labour, the Tories and Nigel Farage’s Reform party.

Plus, over in Canada, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced his resignation after a decade in power, and among the possible candidates mooted to replace him are two old friends of Ed and George’s: Former Bank of England Governor Mark Carney, and former deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland. Who will win out, and what will the future of Canada look like? 

Political Currency has been nominated for the People's Choice award at the Political Podcast Awards. Please VOTE for Political Currency at https://politicalpodcastawards.co.uk/the-peoples-choice-award/

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Production support: Caillin McDaid

Technical Producers: Will Gibson Smith and Danny Pape

Producers: Miriam Hall, James Shield and Rosie Stopher

Executive Producer: Dino Sofos

Political Currency is a Persephonica Production and is part of the Acast Creator Network.

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How do you position yourself on the world stage? David Cameron might have been Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, but in this third episode he shares with Ed Balls and George Osborne the true reality of leading a small country in a big world. British soldiers in Afghanistan; Relations with China; The beginnings of a rupture in the UK-EU relationship. And he shares the more personal moments - like losing a parent - that still happen in the life of a human being who happens to be Prime Minister. 

As Keir Starmer marks six months as Prime Minister, Political Currency is stepping back into 2010, when another former leader of the opposition took up the premiership. Across three episodes, Ed Balls and George Osborne are joined by David Cameron - from the moment he arrived at Downing Street, to dealing with a hostage crisis; taking on his first PMQs to the emotional loss of his father. This is Cameron as you’ve never heard him before - in conversation with both a former ally and adversary as they revisit the political moments that shaped a new government and a new leader.

If you’ve listened to the first two episodes of Inside Number 10: David Cameron - The First Six Months and can’t wait for part 3, don’t! 

All episodes are already available, ad-free for Political Currency Gold subscribers, as well as our subscriber exclusive Inquest episode. And, you can now join Political Currency’s KITCHEN CABINET to enjoy early and ad-free listening, access to live EMQs recordings, and exclusive Political Currency merch.

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Producers: Rosie Stopher, James Shield and John Rogers

Technical Producer: Oliver Geraghty and Mikey Nissenbaum

Production Support: Miriam Hall and Caillin McDaid

Executive Producers: Ellie Clifford and Dino Sofos

Political Currency is a Persephonica Production and is part of the Acast Creator Network

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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How do you prepare the country for austerity? David Cameron joins Ed Balls and George Osborne to step back to the 2010 budget. From the true relationship between a Prime Minister and his Chancellor, to the careful decisions on departmental spending, to the very difficult task of selling cuts to a country that doesn’t want them, this is the reality of a Prime Minister before a government-defining fiscal event.

As Keir Starmer marks six months as Prime Minister, Political Currency is stepping back into 2010, when another former leader of the opposition took up the premiership. Across three episodes, Ed Balls and George Osborne are joined by David Cameron - from the moment he arrived at Downing Street, to dealing with a hostage crisis; taking on his first PMQs to the emotional loss of his father. This is Cameron as you’ve never heard him before - in conversation with both a former ally and adversary as they revisit the political moments that shaped a new government and a new leader.

If you’ve listened to the first episode of Inside Number 10: David Cameron - The First Six Months and can’t wait for part 2, don’t! 

All episodes are already available, ad-free for Political Currency Gold subscribers, with bonus content coming later this week. And, you can now join Political Currency’s KITCHEN CABINET to enjoy early and ad-free listening, access to live EMQs recordings, and exclusive Political Currency merch.

Subscribe now: patreon.com/politicalcurrency

Producers: Rosie Stopher, James Shield and John Rogers

Technical Producer: Oliver Geraghty and Mikey Nissenbaum

Production Support: Miriam Hall and Caillin McDaid

Executive Producers: Ellie Clifford and Dino Sofos

Political Currency is a Persephonica Production and is part of the Acast Creator Network

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Subscribe now on Patreon

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What’s it really like to step through the black door of No 10 for the first time as Prime Minister? Ed Balls and George Osborne ask David Cameron about his “out-of-body” experience on the way to the palace, plus what it’s like organising a staff team who have just had to say goodbye to a government. They discuss how to handle the top job when life starts relentlessly throwing events at you, the surprising tasks - like letters of last resort - that suddenly become your responsibility, and whether a ruthless streak is the only way to succeed.

As Keir Starmer marks six months as Prime Minister, Political Currency is stepping back into 2010, when another former leader of the opposition took up the premiership. Across three episodes, Ed Balls and George Osborne are joined by David Cameron - from the moment he arrived at Downing Street, to dealing with a hostage crisis; taking on his first PMQs to the emotional loss of his father. This is Cameron as you’ve never heard him before - in conversation with both a former ally and adversary as they revisit the political moments that shaped a new government and a new leader.

If you’ve listened to the first episode of Inside Number 10: David Cameron - The First Six Months and can’t wait for part 2, don’t! 

All episodes are already available, ad-free for Political Currency Gold subscribers, with bonus content coming later this week. And, you can now join Political Currency’s KITCHEN CABINET to enjoy early and ad-free listening, access to live EMQs recordings, and exclusive Political Currency merch.

Subscribe now: patreon.com/politicalcurrency

Producers: Rosie Stopher, James Shield and John Rogers

Technical Producer: Oliver Geraghty and Mikey Nissenbaum

Production Support: Miriam Hall and Caillin McDaid

Executive Producers: Ellie Clifford and Dino Sofos

Political Currency is a Persephonica Production and is part of the Acast Creator Network

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Subscribe now on Patreon

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This Boxing Day, George Osborne and Ed Balls pop the champagne and turn their minds to the year ahead. Good Morning Britain's Kate Garraway asks: What could Labour achieve in 2025 that would earn it Ed and George’s seal of approval? And what are they personally looking forward to in the coming year? 

Meanwhile, Conservative Member of Parliament Laura Trott, Shadow Education Secretary, has rung in to ask for advice on getting the issue of improving schools on the radar. 

And have Ed and George really left politics for good? They consider what it would take to stage a comeback … 

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Production support: Caillin McDaid

Producer: Rosie Stopher, James Shield and Miriam Hall 

Executive Producers: Ellie Clifford

Political Currency is a Persephonica Production and is part of the Acast Creator Network. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Christmas is just days away now, so Ed Balls and George Osborne are getting into the season by reflecting on Christmas-time political emergencies that have interrupted the festivities over the years. 

Meanwhile, Claudia Winkleman makes a guest appearance to ask the pair to weigh in on important matters: Should one read the joke first or place the crown after pulling a Christmas cracker? She also asks – mince pies or ice cream? And, of course, traitor or faithful? 

The pair also consider which political figure they would want to cover in a political biography. And George reveals whether he and Theresa May still exchange Christmas cards … 

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Production support: Caillin McDaid

Producer: Rosie Stopher, James Shield and Miriam Hall 

Executive Producers: Ellie Clifford

Political Currency is a Persephonica Production and is part of the Acast Creator Network. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Subscribe now on Patreon

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David Cameron is revealed as our very special guest on Inside No 10: David Cameron - The First Six Months, out 30th December.

Follow us wherever you get your podcasts to make sure you don’t miss this incredible conversation about what it really takes to run the government. 

📺: Watch the trailer now!

Plus: An alleged spy scandal that reportedly ensnared Prince Andrew has Ed Balls and George Osborne asking: is it as bad as it looks? Isn’t spying – which the Chinese national in question strongly denies he was doing – just a fact of life? We consider how to balance counterespionage with attempts to build a stronger economic relationship with China.

Meanwhile, with 2024 drawing to a close, we review the party leaders’ performance. How worried should Keir Starmer be about the polls? Has he made a rod for his own back in handling the WASPI (Women Against State Pension Inequality) compensation matter? And how’s Kemi Badenoch doing in her new role as Tory leader? 

And George and Ed hand out their awards for the political highs and lows of the year. Who had the worst speech? Whose was the best? And we review the most memorable moments of 2024, for both the right and the wrong reasons…

Become a member of POLITICAL CURRENCY GOLD 🏅 to support the podcast, enjoy ad-free listening to all our episodes and receive early access to EMQs.

Subscribe now: patreon.com/politicalcurrency or on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/politicalcurrency

Production support: Caillin McDaid

Producers: Miriam Hall, James Shield and Rosie Stopher

Executive Producer: Ellie Clifford

Political Currency is a Persephonica Production and is part of the Acast Creator Network.

Subscribe now on Patreon

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.