EMQs: The reality of reshuffles
South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard is our first questioner on this week’s EMQs, asking whether other MPs will follow in Andy Burnham’s footsteps and leave Westminster to become mayors. Ed Balls and George Osborne speak about the career opportunities that could come with these positions and how they can uniquely prepare you for No. 10 more than any cabinet role can.
A civil servant then enquires why Burnham’s reshuffle took so long, and what MPs are thinking during the tense hours that follow one. Ed recounts his own anxiety when first entering government, while George explains the complications in moving ministers who are not keen for new jobs and how governments stop the house of cards from toppling.
They also give advice on how to pick the right college at Oxford, recalling their own time at school. The pair then reflect on the behind the scenes debates that led to the vote for equal marriage in 2013, with George venting long held frustrations at some MPs for their opposition...
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:
👉 X
👉 TikTok
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:
👉 patreon.com/politicalcurrency
Please note: Kitchen Cabinet is only available via Patreon.
Credits:
Research: Sam Burton
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]
Find us on social media @polcurrency
Political Currency is a Persephonica production.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Where can you listen?
