The Andy Burnham we know

The Andy Burnham we know

Political Currency · 2026-06-25
01:05:21

The pathway from Makerfield to Downing Street seems inevitable. Andy Burnham was sworn in to Parliament hours after Keir Starmer resigned and now seems set to be crowned as prime minister next month. But who is he? Ed Balls and George Osborne have known him for over 25 years, and speak to how the man they know will govern once he enters No. 10. How will his style as a footballer be reflected in his governing?

Ed and George then examine the likelihood of whether Andy Burnham will call an early General Election. Either way he risks repeating the mistakes of Gordon Brown or Theresa May. Ed lays out the three tests Burnham must ask himself before going to the polls, while George lays out how a General Election could play out for the opposition parties.

Finally, they turn to the man still in Downing Street. What will Keir Starmer’s final weeks in post look like? Ed and George look back on the final moments of Brown’s and Cameron’s premierships, and what the thinking will be in the Starmer team in these final days and weeks.

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Credits:


Research: Sam Burton

Production: Caillin McDaid & Nasreen Arain

Video Editor: Sam Gruet


Executive Producer: Ellie Clifford & Henrietta Harrison


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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.


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Political Currency is a Persephonica production.

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

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