EMQs: What’s your snakiest political move?
Political Currency
Persephonica
4.1 • 1.5K Ratings
🗓️ 12 January 2026
⏱️ 33 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
In the first EMQs of 2026 Ed Balls and George Osborne answer the most important question for any politician: what was your snakiest move? The pair share each of their proudest (and least proud) moments of cunning, as well as some hard-won advice on when being snakey can pay off.
They then turn to a question missed from our last ‘What If’ episode from Australian cabinet member Chris Bowen, who wonders what would happen if John Smith had lived. What would have become of Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, and, most importantly, Ed?
George’s old Downing Street colleague Craig Oliver also asks a question concerning the gap between establishment and public opinion on AI which allows George to flex his new OpenAI knowledge. Finally, they answer the question on everyone’s minds: what was their favourite song from the Eras Tour?
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.
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Credits:
Research: Sam Burton
Production: Caillin McDaid and Caitlin Hanrahan
Video Editor: Avi Asher
Executive Producer: Ellie Clifford
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | The Chancellor of the Exchequer. |
| 0:02.0 | Getting a lesson from the Shadow Chancellor in how to balance the books, |
| 0:05.0 | it's like getting a lesson from Dracula and how to look after a blood back. |
| 0:08.0 | Ed Balls. |
| 0:10.0 | As steady as she goes, budget. |
| 0:13.0 | What kind of ship does he think he's on, the Titanic? |
| 0:15.0 | Themery, Celeste. |
| 0:17.0 | Welcome to EMQs from Political Currency. |
| 0:20.0 | With Ed Balls and George Osborne. |
| 0:27.1 | So hello and welcome to EMQ's ex-minister's questions. |
| 0:31.6 | I've been wanted to get on with this podcast and our EMQ's edition, |
| 0:34.3 | but George has been eating bacon in such a sort of unsightly and messy manner |
| 0:40.4 | that we just have to wait. But, you know, is it finally clear? I'm sorry, it's the early hours |
| 0:45.2 | of the morning here in Silicon Valley, where the future is being forged, and having a little |
| 0:51.4 | bit of, you know, refueling stop and some nice crispy American bacon. You know, Americans do that crispy bacon in a way that no one else does. You know, I don't know if you've ever tried doing it properly in Britain. It's just not as crispy. And I've got some what's called steel cut oatmeal. I mean, I'm not sure what other way there is to cut oatmeal. but my steel cut oatmeal. It's also very nice. Thank you very much. I'm touched for your concern. Eggs, is he over, sunny side up? No, I decided to, I thought the eggs would be a bit messy whilst also trying to record this thing perched in my hotel bedroom. Look, it's been pretty messy watching the bacon, I've got to tell you. Anyway. You know, I would have thought as a rock star, you know, you're used to eating at all hours and, you know, presumably it takes, you know, you finish up in the early hours of the morning after the after show party. Do you not grab yourself for some crispy bacon as you come down from the post-gig high. |
| 1:49.0 | Look, you missed our last gig, so you have no idea quite what a triumph it was. |
| 1:54.9 | In particular, Chaparone Pink Pony Club was really good and sold out. |
| 1:59.2 | A load of our political currency kitchen cabinet and goals subscribers came along, which was great. |
| 2:01.3 | But the good news is, George, |
| 2:06.8 | we are back on stage Saturday the 7th of February at Dingwalls in Camden for Great Ormond Street Hospital and give you a little preview. New songs coming up include Human League |
| 2:13.6 | and Soft Cell. We're going to do Tainted Love. A bit more retro than Pink Pony Club. |
| 2:19.4 | Yes, but you know, that's what we do. I mean, they'll all have a centrist dad take. We'll also |
... |
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