Is the clock ticking for Keir Starmer?
Political Currency
Persephonica
4.1 • 1.5K Ratings
🗓️ 23 April 2026
⏱️ 64 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Another dramatic revelation in the Mandelson scandal has reignited the tensions around Keir Starmer’s leadership and the future of his government. Ed Balls and George Osborne reflect on the latest developments, and look forward to how this will impact the local elections in just two weeks' time. The pair question the sacking of Olly Robbins, assess Kemi Badenoch’s performance at PMQs, and look at the bleak tone of the cabinet.
With an extension of the ceasefire in Iran, George and Ed debate the likelihood of a lasting peace agreement. George argues there may be a workable deal on the table, while Ed is more cautious saying Iran doesn't trust the Americans, and that it’s unclear who they actually should be negotiating with.
Ed and George’s pal Kevin Warsh faced the Senate Banking Committee ahead of his approval as Fed Chair on Tuesday, with some particularly tough questioning from Democratic senator Elizabeth Warren. The pair discuss his political savvy in the hearing and, if confirmed, how he will navigate his relationship with Donald Trump when in post.
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Credits:
Research: Sam Burton
Production: Caillin McDaid
Video Editor: Carla Mercer
Executive Producer: Ellie Clifford & Henrietta Harrison
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | This is political currency with Ed Balls and George Osbourne. |
| 0:32.0 | So we are remote this week, although I think we're both in London. |
| 0:34.0 | But George, you know, has got a busy day. |
| 0:39.4 | There's also some refit happening in our studios, which is exciting. We'll see how that goes in the next couple of weeks. How's your week being, George? Well, it's been a big week |
| 0:43.2 | at home because our little boy, our youngest, Pax, aged us two, has gone to nursery. So that's |
| 0:51.3 | always an exciting moment. He seems to be enjoying it. |
| 0:54.8 | So that's great. |
| 0:55.8 | At the other end of the spectrum, I took our youngest daughter for her last term at |
| 1:01.5 | university. |
| 1:02.2 | She's doing her finals this summer. |
| 1:03.5 | So, you know, we're rather at different ends of the childcare spectrum. |
| 1:08.9 | Yes. |
| 1:09.8 | Quite emotional, actually. |
| 1:11.4 | I mean, emotional for you, the beginning. |
| 1:13.3 | Emotional for me, you know, the end of formal education. |
| 1:17.2 | Although it's not the end of parenting, as we know. |
| 1:19.9 | No, that is true. |
| 1:21.9 | And what else has been going on? |
| 1:23.1 | Are you at home? |
| 1:23.7 | Are you in the British Museum? |
| 1:25.8 | I'm in the British Museum. |
| 1:27.2 | We had a spectacular |
... |
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