A dramatic week in UK politics has seen the successful state visit to the US by King Charles and another hit on Keir Starmer in the ongoing Mandelson scandal. Ed Balls and George Osborne break down all the moving parts of these events. Is the special relationship saved? Did Kemi Badenoch move too early against Starmer? And what does this all mean going into a seismic set of local elections?

On said elections, the pair break down the vulnerable positions for both main parties. They argue Kemi Badenoch needs an ethical reset from the tumultuous Boris Johnson era if she hopes to fend off Reform and make serious gains for the Conservatives. On the Labour side, they believe Keir Starmer has not got a diagnosis for why Labour are unpopular, and this risks his position should any cabinet member decide to stick the knife in after the elections.

Finally, they return to assisted dying to analyse why the bill stalled out in the Lords and debate just how it can come back. Is it a slow process to such a big reform? Or is it best to strike when the iron is hot, or risk losing this debate for a generation? The pair disagree on what exactly is the best route forward…

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Credits:

Research: Sam Burton

Production: Caillin McDaid & Nasreen Arain

Video Editor: Carla Mercer & Ryan Finnigan

Executive Producer: Ellie Clifford & Henrietta Harrison

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

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

Off the back of last week’s EMQs, Tamara Finkelstein sends in a correction to the idea that UK schools don’t prepare for attacks like those in the US. She highlights that Jewish schools have to prepare and feel threatened in this current environment. Ed Balls and George Osborne highlight the worrying trend of antisemitism in the UK and the need for public figures to actively combat it.

Aldershot MP Alex Baker then chimes in with a proposal to adopt a multilateral defence, security and resilience bank, much like Mark Carney is championing in Canada. This poses a challenge for the pair, who recognise the necessity of improving defensive relations with our allies but see the economic challenges

How do prime ministers prepare for PMQs? Is it usual for the opposition to send questions in advance, as Kemi Badenoch did last week? George explains the procedure and conventions in the chamber, and how the opposition aims to catch out PMs.

And finally, pollsters from More in Common reached out following the discussion of ex-PMs, on the main show, with some fascinating insight into who the public most wants to hear from. Ed and George are included for good measure, and even rival podcasters get a mention…

We love hearing from you, so please don’t forget to send all your EMQs to questions@politicalcurrency and make sure to include a voice note of your question or send a question to our social media handles:

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Thanks for listening. To get episodes early and ad- free join Political Currency Gold or our Kitchen Cabinet. If you want even more perks including our exclusive newsletter, join our Kitchen Cabinet today:

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Please note: Kitchen Cabinet is only available via Patreon.

Credits:

Research: Sam Burton

Production: Caillin McDaid & Nasreen Arain

Video Editor: Carla Mercer

Executive Producer: Ellie Clifford & Henrietta Harrison

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

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

Another dramatic revelation in the Mandelson scandal has reignited the tensions around Keir Starmer’s leadership and the future of his government. Ed Balls and George Osborne reflect on the latest developments, and look forward to how this will impact the local elections in just two weeks' time. The pair question the sacking of Olly Robbins, assess Kemi Badenoch’s performance at PMQs, and look at the bleak tone of the cabinet.

With an extension of the ceasefire in Iran, George and Ed debate the likelihood of a lasting peace agreement. George argues there may be a workable deal on the table, while Ed is more cautious saying Iran doesn't trust the Americans, and that it’s unclear who they actually should be negotiating with.

Ed and George’s pal Kevin Warsh faced the Senate Banking Committee ahead of his approval as Fed Chair on Tuesday, with some particularly tough questioning from Democratic senator Elizabeth Warren. The pair discuss his political savvy in the hearing and, if confirmed, how he will navigate his relationship with Donald Trump when in post.

We love hearing from you, so please don’t forget to send all your EMQs to questions@politicalcurrency and make sure to include a voice note of your question or send a question to our social media handles:

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Please note: Kitchen Cabinet is only available via Patreon.

Credits:

Research: Sam Burton

Production: Caillin McDaid

Video Editor: Carla Mercer

Executive Producer: Ellie Clifford & Henrietta Harrison

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

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