Former deputy prime minister John Prescott died yesterday at the age of 86. Often described as a ‘political bruiser’, Ed Balls and George Osborne remember Prescott differently: as a policy powerhouse and as a skilled negotiator between Blair and Brown. Does a comparable player exist in today’s Labour government? And, Ed recalls the moment he was involved in a car chase with ‘Two Jags’ himself.

With the assisted dying bill facing a second reading next week, the pair consider whether it will pass or be voted down. Is the issue set to be off the agenda for a generation, or could Starmer rescue the bill?

Plus: the Budget may not have fallen apart, but with Scottish Labour sending different messages, farmers (and Jeremy Clarkson) on the march and mortgage rates rising, we take a look at its political impact. Are any u-turns on the horizon?

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Production support: Caillin McDaid

Technical Producer: Oliver Geraghty

Producers: Miriam Hall, Rosie Stopher and James Shield

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.

With incensed British farmers set to descend on London in protest to the government’s new rules on inheritance tax for agricultural property, Ed Balls and George Osborne consider the likelihood of the Treasury reversing course. What made George change his mind on the so-called “pasty tax” in 2012 - and will Rachel Reeves consider a similar u-turn?

This past week marked a special anniversary – the day George thought the UK would go to the polls. Should Rishi Sunak have let his run go a little longer? Author and journalist Tim Shipman, who has examined the issue of Sunak’s timing in his latest book Out: How Brexit Got Done and the Tories Were Undone asks George and Ed their view on when the Tories should’ve called the election. They also consider: does Donald Trump’s election, and his love of protectionist policies, make the idea of the UK joining the European Union Customs Union more justifiable?

And… exactly what is Gerrymandering? Professors Balls and Osborne are here to explain.

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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

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.

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

The second era of Trump is a little over a week old, and the president-elect is making waves with his cabinet appointments. An attorney general who has been investigated by the House ethics committee for sexual misconduct allegations (which he vehemently denies)? Welcome, Matt Gaetz. Trump’s pick for defence secretary? Pete Hegseth, a Fox News host who’s a proponent of American-made ammo.

George Osborne and Ed Balls consider what the spillover will be for the UK. Will the recently cooked-up Chagos Islands deal get messy? And will Britain find itself more exposed to America than the US itself when it comes to the economic fallout?

And while Nigel Farage still appears to be jostling to become UK ambassador to the US, Peter Mandelson is strongly tipped for the job. Do unusual times call for an ambassador with a little ‘British allure’?

Back home, and the Labour government has increased tuition fees for the first time since 2017. With that, and the cut in the winter fuel payment, George says he’s really starting to get on board with the Starmer government…

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

Technical Producer: Oliver Geraghty

Producers: Miriam Hall, Rosie Stopher and James Shield

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.