EMQs: Is Britain lazier than America?

EMQs: Is Britain lazier than America?

Political Currency · 2026-08-03
49:15

Grimsby MP Melanie Onn sends in a question for this week's EMQs, querying why George went straight to Grimsby as a challenge for devolution in a recent episode. The pair delve into challenges facing Andy Burnham’s devolution agenda, and how past governments have failed and succeeded in addressing these disparities.


A listener then poses a question: is Britain lazier than other countries? And, is that stalling our growth? George and Ed compare our outlook to work in comparison to superpowers like China or the US, as well as our European counterparts. George even tells a story of a pre-president Macron.


They reminisce on Labour’s final shadow cabinet elections, and the heavyweights elected, their biggest sliding door moments, and why the left seemingly has a monopoly on climate issues. 


Look forward to our summer interviews beginning on Thursday, where Ed speaks to Tory leader Kemi Badenoch, and even asks her about climate issues. Look forward to more interviews throughout August, as well as special themed EMQs.


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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Credits:


Production: Sam Burton & Nasreen Arain

Producer: Caillin McDaid 

Video Editor: Sam Gruet

Executive Producer: 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.

Political Currency

Ed Balls and George Osborne take us behind closed doors into the rooms where decisions are made. Having battled it out across the despatch box, the former Chancellor and shadow chancellor now meet in the studio to discuss the decisions that affect the nation’s pockets. Our frenemies have the knowledge and experience to explain how good politics follows the economics - and expose how the powerful become powerless when faced with market forces and political currents they can’t control. Join us every Thursday.


Send your messages or voice notes to [email protected]


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Political Currency is a Persephonica production.

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

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