Best PEd Balls Podcasts (2025)

1
Could the UK spiral into a ‘debt doom loop’? 1:07:00

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11h ago1:07:00

1:07:00

The IMF has upgraded its global growth forecast - so things aren’t quite as bleak as we feared. Still bleak, though. Ed Balls and George Osborne dig into what the numbers mean for Chancellor Rachel Reeves. With spending cuts ruled out and the Autumn Budget on the horizon, the question looms: can the government afford all it has promised? George thi…

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EMQs: Was HS2 a complete waste of money? 35:50

4d ago35:50

35:50

The UK’s high speed railway has been plagued with cost blowouts, delays and scale-backs - so Ed Balls and George Osborne consider: has it all just been a big waste of money? Couldn’t those funds have been put to better use? Perhaps for the NHS, for example? The pair also consider the concept of age limits on voting. We’ve got a minimum age - recent…

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Is Labour reaching a breaking point on Palestine? 1:06:24

7d ago1:06:24

1:06:24

Parliament has broken up for summer, but politics shows no sign of cooling down. Ed Balls and George Osborne run through the latest from every party - the Tories’ frontbench reshuffle, Labour’s mounting tensions over Gaza, Reform’s approach to protests worries - all while the Greens and Lib Democrats make their moves. What’s really going on as MPs …

1
EMQs: Can we really fund everything in the NHS? 47:46

11d ago47:46

47:46

What should the NHS pay for, and what should it not? In this week’s episode, Ed Balls and George Osborne tackle one of the toughest political questions: how do you decide what’s “reasonable” for the state to fund when it comes to healthcare? As medical advances multiply and the public expects more from the NHS, is a national conversation about rati…

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Could the Epstein files cost Trump his MAGA base? 59:26

14d ago59:26

59:26

Donald Trump wants to know why everyone won’t just forget about the Epstein files already. As he keeps pointing out, the disgraced financier has been dead for years. But Trump himself stirred up fresh interest in a trove of documents that many hoped would reveal explosive new details. Now it looks like they won’t be released after all - and the MAG…

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EMQs: Is Labour the new party of the monarchy? 39:05

18d ago39:05

39:05

Which side of politics loves the monarchy more? Conventional wisdom says Conservatives are the monarchy’s biggest fans. But are Ed Balls and George Osborne the exceptions to that rule? The pair explore how royalist sentiment plays out across the political spectrum, how long this current reign might last, and whether we’ll ever see a King George. Th…

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Can the UK-France deal solve the migrant crisis? 59:53

21d ago59:53

59:53

There was a lot of ceremony and back-patting this week as Emmanuel Macron visited the UK. But behind the smiles, thorny issues like migration and post-Brexit power dynamics are back on the table. George and Ed ask what this renewed Franco-British ‘friendship’ really means, and whether it signals a serious reset or just more political theatre. Also …

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EMQs: Our Keir Year, modern Machiavellis and fairness in politics 37:57

25d ago37:57

37:57

What is a fair way to govern? In response to a long time listener who feels a victim of his own success – disproportionately hit by taxes and ineligible for certain benefits – Ed Balls explains three different philosophical concepts of ‘fairness’. George Osborne meanwhile dismisses wealth tax as a catch all solution, underlining how the Labour gove…

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Week from Hell for Reeves and Starmer 56:06

29d ago56:06

56:06

Some incredible scenes in PMQs this week - in which Chancellor Rachel Reeves was openly crying - has Ed Balls and George Osborne considering just how bad things have got for the Labour government. Mere days after a dramatic climbdown over welfare reform, when the watered-down bill inched over the finish line amid threats of MP rebellion, the bond m…

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EMQs: Can the G20 still keep the peace? 43:00

1M ago43:00

43:00

Is the G20 still a force for peace and diplomacy, or just a stage for political performance? Ed Balls and George Osborne kick off this week’s EMQs with a question about nuclear non-proliferation and whether South Africa should push it up the agenda this year. The pair then turns to a question from regular listener Douglas Alexander, Minister of Sta…

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Will the welfare rebellion be the end of Starmer? 1:05:15

1M ago1:05:15

1:05:15

Daddy’s back in the (White) House! Ed Balls and George Osborne go over the major event of the week - starting with the NATO meeting in The Hague. Allies have agreed to up defence spending to 5 percent, but that’s not what’s grabbing the headlines. More attention has been on new Secretary General Mark Rutte referring to Donald Trump as “Daddy.” The …

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EMQs: Is politics worth the family sacrifice? 50:18

1M ago50:18

50:18

What happens when politics clashes with family life? Ed Balls and George Osborne take on big questions this week, starting with Michael Gove’s ex-wife, Sarah Vine, who asks whether David Cameron should have stayed on after Brexit. Her daughter Beatrice wants to know if Ed and George would still choose a political career, given its toll on family an…

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How far will Trump go on Iran and what could it mean for Britain? 1:01:56

1M ago1:01:56

1:01:56

Donald Trump is keeping everyone guessing on Iran. After Israel’s surprise strike and Tehran’s retaliation, George Osborne brings fresh insight from Washington on how far Trump might really go - and what it means for Britain if he does. Ed Balls asks whether Starmer’s government could say no if the US wants to use British bases for strikes, and the…

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EMQs: Could PMQs save America? 44:58

2M ago44:58

44:58

Could a weekly grilling like Prime Minister’s Questions fix US politics? In the wake of Original Sin - Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson’s damning account of Joe Biden’s final days in office - Ed Balls and George Osborne ask whether a PMQs-style showdown could bring more accountability to American democracy. And are there any American political customs…

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Reeves's Spending Review ‘gamble’: continuity or change for Labour? 59:54

2M ago59:54

59:54

Rachel Reeves has finally delivered her much-anticipated Spending Review, but has it done anything to shift Labour’s story? George Osborne calls it “continuity Sunak,” arguing that the big spending pledges are less a break from the past and more a continuation of Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak’s economic path. Ed Balls says Reeves is taking ‘a real …

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EMQs: The art of political sacking 48:12

2M ago48:12

48:12

Two Members of Parliament (and a former too!) are seeking Ed Balls’ and George Osborne’s counsel this week. The pair consider the impact of AI, courtesy of a question from Alan Mak, the MP for Havant and the Shadow Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology - who has rung in to ask how emerging technologies can help governments run b…

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Welfare vs Warfare: Can Labour Afford NATO’s Demands? 58:58

2M ago58:58

58:58

With just days to go before Rachel Reeves delivers her first Spending Review, Labour is facing an uncomfortable squeeze. NATO wants defence spending ramped up to 3.5% of GDP, but Reeves is sticking to her strict fiscal rules. Can Starmer keep both Washington and voters at home on side - or will the sums simply stop adding up? Meanwhile, Donald Trum…

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EMQs: Can Britain capitalise on Trump’s student crackdown? 30:19

2M ago30:19

30:19

When things go wrong - very badly wrong, as with the case of the infected blood and the sub-postmasters scandals - why can’t the state act quickly to compensate victims? Ed Balls and George Osborne consider how the government should best respond, and balance the interests of innocent people as well as taxpayers. Harvard is the latest American unive…

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Labour’s looming spending review chaos 1:03:48

2M ago1:03:48

1:03:48

If Labour was hoping for one of those quick and easy policy U-turns, they certainly haven’t got it. With Rachel Reeves’ spending review a scant two weeks away, the government is still having trouble explaining the details - or providing any detail, really - on how winter fuel payments are now going to work. Now that cutting the two-child benefit ca…

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EMQs: Can Kemi Badenoch cheer up the Conservatives? 48:20

2M ago48:20

48:20

Can a quick political win keep the public on side while the hard work happens behind the scenes? This week on Ex-Ministers’ Questions, Ed Balls and George Osborne debate whether Labour's lack of early symbolic moves has cost them public goodwill - and whether a bit of political theatre can actually make or break a government. They also tackle quest…

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Is winter fuel U-turn a leadership 'fiasco' for Labour? 58:42

2M ago58:42

58:42

Did someone say U-turn? Ed Balls and George Osborne have been saying it for a while, actually, when it comes to the matter of the controversial winter fuel tax cut. Now that the government has walked it back, will it do the trick and soothe voters and ease tensions with Labour MPs? Ed thinks the approach is “politically and technically messy”. Geor…

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EMQs: Is Trump accidentally going green? 39:04

2M ago39:04

39:04

California Governor hopeful Steve Hilton has a question for Ed Balls and George Osborne this week: which American state would they choose to live in, and would they rather be a senator or a governor? A trip down fantasy lane has the pair questioning the best path to political glory, based on previous presidents’ CVs. Ed Balls for 2032? Seems… far f…

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Is Labour’s immigration blitz worth the price? 1:05:16

3M ago1:05:16

1:05:16

Keir Starmer’s controversial reference to an “Island of strangers” as part of his immigration overhaul has sparked a furore, and inspired a comparison to his previous stance on migration. Ed Balls thinks while there’s no doubt it will cause some consternation, it will be a price worth paying. George Osborne, meanwhile, is getting Tory vibes … it al…

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EMQs: Can Reform UK fix broken councils? 30:17

3M ago30:17

30:17

This week on Ex Ministers’ Questions Ed Balls and George Osborne hear from listeners from the high seas, the Dubai sun, and the halls of Parliament - including a Gold subscriber who circumnavigated the globe listening to the podcast under the stars. The pair consider, has the press been too negative on the government’s brand new free trade deal wit…

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Starmer's Trump Bump? The UK-US trade deal 1:02:14

3M ago1:02:14

1:02:14

It’s been an impressive week for the Labour government, with trade deals with both India and the US. Ed Balls and George Osborne consider: what does this say about the Starmer government’s ‘softly-softly’ approach to the wildly unpredictable Trump administration? Being the first in the world to ink a deal with the Americans is nothing to be sniffed…

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EMQs: A Brit for Governor of California? 36:16

3M ago36:16

36:16

Ed Balls and George Osborne, fresh from a break for the Inside the Room Series: The Election that Never Was, jump straight back in with a slew of questions. With George’s old mate and former David Cameron adviser Steve Hilton jumping into the Governor’s race in California they counsel a stateside Republican voter (and Kitchen Cabinet member) on whe…

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Trump’s tumultuous first 100 days, UK local elections and the end of two party politics? 1:04:56

3M ago1:04:56

1:04:56

Local elections are taking place across England today - and they’re a major political test for Keir Starmer, Kemi Badenoch, and Nigel Farage. Ed Balls and George Osborne break down what’s at stake in these key contests, from mayoral races to a critical by-election. Meanwhile, across the pond, Donald Trump has just hit 100 days in office. With stock…

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Inside The Room: The Election That Never Was (Part 3) 51:44

3M ago51:44

51:44

To Snap or Not to Snap?... As we turn to October 2007, election fever has taken over the UK - everyone from journalists to the opposition to Ed Balls himself is expecting Gordon Brown to call a snap general election. But with the polls lurching back towards the Tories, Brown gets cold feet. In the final episode of this series, Deborah Mattinson rej…

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Inside The Room: The Election That Never Was (Part 2) 44:23

3M ago44:23

44:23

Election Speculation... Labour had a substantial lead in the polls in 2007, fuelling talk of a snap general election to cement Gordon Brown’s place in Number 10. And things only got better as the party arrived in Bournemouth for their party conference. By the end of it, election fever was well and truly in the air. To listen to episode 3 straight a…

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Inside The Room: The Election That Never Was (Part 1) 48:31

3M ago48:31

48:31

Gordon Brown Takes the Crown... Ed Balls and George Osborne relive the sliding doors moment that could have changed the course of British history - the 2007 election that never was. To listen to episodes 2 and 3 straight away, sign up to Political Currency Gold or our Kitchen Cabinet. Head to Apple Podcasts or www.patreon.com/PoliticalCurrency to f…

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EMQs Easter special: Does anyone want to pay more taxes? 37:18

4M ago37:18

37:18

In this Easter special, Ed Balls and George Osborne meet a truly mythical creature: someone who wants to pay more tax, not less. And according to George, there’s actually a way to do it. They also discuss a big political what-if: what happens if a Prime Minister loses their seat? They've talked before about how someone can become PM without being a…

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EMQs: How should PMs behave after they leave No 10? 34:13

4M ago34:13

34:13

As the US-China trade war heats up, Ed Balls and George Osborne ask: what if the Trump White House took the nuclear option… defaulting on its debts to China? Ed explains why that could be a catastrophic thing to do, while George points to the ‘Mar-a-Lago Accord’ as a way that the US in reality may negotiate its debt. Sticking with Trump, Ed and Geo…

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Trump Vs the Bond Market: Inside the President’s tariffs U-turn 57:32

4M ago57:32

57:32

It’s been a rollercoaster few days for the world economy thanks to Donald Trump’s ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs announcement - and his dramatic U-turn a scant week later. With a 90-day pause for every country hit - aside from China - Ed Balls and George Osborne consider the significance of a hugely disappointing auction of US treasuries, and how it led …

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EMQs: Is toxic masculinity a government problem? 37:18

4M ago37:18

37:18

This week, Ed Balls and George Osborne mull museums and memes via bank holidays and pennies. With listeners telling us their locations of choice, funeral director Ross ranks highly with his admission that Ed and George are sometimes listened to in a hearse on the drive home. The pair consider: what are the merits of regulating the funeral industry?…

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Trump’s tariffs: Is Starmer right to ‘keep calm and carry on’? 1:02:53

4M ago1:02:53

1:02:53

In the wake of Donald Trump’s ‘Liberation Day’, Ed Balls and George Osborne break down the economic thinking – or lack thereof – behind President’s tariffs. Rather than the numbers emerging from complicated analysis, Ed explains how they are merely reached through a simple formula. Will the Federal Reserve be able to cut interest rates as quickly a…

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EMQs: Who’s to blame for the state of the economy? 37:26

4M ago37:26

37:26

A whole host of Treasury buffs have sent in their questions this week in wake of the Spring Statement, for Ed Balls and George Osborne to answer. Former Chancellor Jeremy Hunt asks whether in the light of Labour’s announcing civil service reductions and welfare reform, the government is “stealing our clothes”? Lord Macpherson, Permanent Secretary t…

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Could Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ gamble pay off? 1:05:08

4M ago1:05:08

1:05:08

Has Chancellor Rachel Reeves got it right? Ed Balls and George Osborne provide their immediate reaction to her Spring Statement, questioning whether she’s missed her big opportunity for a relaunch. George likens her approach to ‘staying at the Roulette table’, having failed to land on black the first time around… He also compares her inflexibility …

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EMQs: Should frozen Russian assets fund Ukraine? 34:55

4M ago34:55

34:55

With talk of raiding pensions, George Osborne and Ed Balls consider how to increase the incentives for working people to save. As former Treasury insiders, the pair reflect on specific parts of their own previous pension reforms and ask: what approaches would they take if they were still setting policy today? They’re also pressed on recent argument…

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Is Rachel Reeves risking her reset moment? 57:05

4M ago57:05

57:05

They may have both been leading Brexiteers but Dominic Cummings and Nigel Farage were once fierce rivals, vying to be the top campaign of the referendum. As recently as last year Cummings accused Farage of ‘surrounding himself with useless characters’ – so why are we now hearing of a secret meeting between the two before Christmas? Ed Balls and Geo…

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EMQs: Political Golf Buddies 39:30

5M ago39:30

39:30

This week, Ed Balls and George Osborne complete the chancellor triptych with current shadow Chancellor Mel Stride ringing in to ask: how much space should a treasurer leave themselves against their fiscal target? And pressingly, does Rachel Reeves pass their test? They also consider if Nigel Farage will come to regret his close alignment with Donal…

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Will welfare cuts be Labour’s undoing? 1:02:39

5M ago1:02:39

1:02:39

A ceasefire in the Russian-Ukraine war is now on the table, with US and Ukrainian officials reaching a deal to stop the fighting. With US military aid to Ukraine and intelligence sharing now reinstated, the world is now turning to Putin’s next move. Will the Russian president agree to peace? George Osborne and Ed Balls consider the monumental shift…

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EMQs: A post politics survival guide 47:50

5M ago47:50

47:50

This week George Osborne and Ed Balls are taking questions in person, with a select few Kitchen Cabinet members joining the first ever live audience recording of the show. Is Fredreich Merz right to worry that the European Union will face a financial crisis thanks to government debt? Is AI data management the way forward for driving significant sav…

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Will Rachel Reeves be forced into an emergency budget? 58:00

5M ago58:00

58:00

It’s been a week of political whiplash, including that infamous explosive meeting in the Oval office and renewed commitment from European leaders to back Ukraine. George Osborne and Ed Balls consider who - if anyone - has fared well in this wild week. Is Trump himself as the deft negotiator he claims to be? And with a rush to bolster arms on this s…

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EMQs: The art of parliamentary heckling 47:28

5M ago47:28

47:28

This week, Conservative peer Baroness Gabby Bertin asks for advice on how to keep a government report from sinking without a trace. Her review - released on Thursday - calls for a ban on degrading and misogynistic pornography. George Osborne and Ed Balls provide their views on how to make sure the findings reach the right people and make an impact.…

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Europe’s security wake-up call 1:01:32

5M ago1:01:32

1:01:32

As Keir Starmer meets with Donald Trump for the first time since the latter’s re-election, international order appears to be fragmenting around us. George Osborne and Ed Balls ask, are European leaders having to face up to a painful truth that their security is now at the whim of Trump’s? Could other countries even come close to providing the kinds…

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EMQs: How to survive a cabinet reshuffle 46:39

5M ago46:39

46:39

Ex-ministers Ed Balls and George Osborne reflect on the moments in their political careers when they went against the whip. What are the consequences of going against the party grain, and is it worth it? Simon Hart, former Chief Whip under Rishi Sunak, sends us a voice note to ask… And on the subject of political maneuvering and backroom deals – an…

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Could Keir Starmer send British Troops to Ukraine? 1:03:08

5M ago1:03:08

1:03:08

Donald Trump and his Vice President JD Vance have set the cat amongst the pigeons as they criticise Europe and Ukraine this week. Ed Balls and George Osborne look back on a week that turned the world upside down. How do NATO members respond to perhaps the most unpredictable world leader ever known? Keir Starmer is just one world leader considering …

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EMQs: Are personal insults fair in politics? 42:48

6M ago42:48

42:48

With Valentine’s Day just gone, podcast soulmates Ed Balls and George Osborne are turning to questions of both hearts and minds this week. As Keir Starmer recently became the first sitting Prime Minister to take a public HIV test, Richard Angell, the Chief Executive of Terrence Higgins Trust asks: Did Ed and George ever take a similar step while in…

1
Can Kemi Badenoch get free of Nigel Farage? 58:58

6M ago58:58

58:58

The Starmer government’s landmark Assisted Dying bill could be in danger of collapsing, with sponsor Kim Leadbeater now proposing major changes in the final moments. Will this signal the end once and for all? Ed Balls and George Osborne clash over how Keir Starmer should best proceed. Should he pull the bill entirely? Or is it time to press on? Mea…

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EMQs: Can we get young people back to work? 41:05

6M ago41:05

41:05

This week, Ed Balls and George Osborne take on some of the most difficult challenges facing society today. With millions of people of working age not in a job - officially called economically inactive - the pair consider the current costs to society and how to fix them. Columnist for the Times and former MP Matthew Parris asks George directly: Didn…