What REALLY goes on at party conference?
Political Currency
Persephonica
4.1 • 1.5K Ratings
🗓️ 29 September 2025
⏱️ 42 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
When does a party conference go well? And when does disaster strike? Ahead of the main party conferences, Ed Balls and George Osborne dive into their memories to reveal what really happens behind the scenes.
From George's first job as a Tory 'observer' faxing Tony Blair's speeches to No. 10, to Ed staying up so late he saw the breakfast TV crews setting up, they share the ultimate insider's guide to navigating this political “goldfish bowl”.
The pair are joined by special contributors with their own incredible stories: Lord Eric Pickles on his bizarre role managing Denis Thatcher's applause; Sir Oliver Letwin with a powerful, first-hand account of the 1984 Brighton bombing; and journalist Nick Robinson on the moment he confronted a furious Prime Minister.
Plus, Ed and George discuss what separates a good conference from a disastrous one, and why you should always be careful what you say in the lift…
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Credits:
Assistant Producer: Caillin McDaid
Senior Producer: Silvia Maresca
Video Editor: Oliver Geraghty
Executive Producer: Ellie Clifford
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Transcript
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