Endgame for Starmer?

Ed and George discuss John Healey’s resignation and the devastating impact it will have on Starmer’s Government.

The shock resignation of defence secretary John Healey has prompted an emergency input from Ed Balls and George Osborne for this week’s episode. They react to why he went, what it means for the government and how defence spending will become a bigger crunch point than it is already.

With voters in Makerfield about to go to the polls in what Ed Balls and George Osborne call the “by-election of the century”, the pair examine the biggest political story in the country: Andy Burnham’s bid to return to Parliament and potentially replace Keir Starmer as UK leader.

If Burnham wins the Makerfield constituency, what should he do immediately? Drawing on their experience at the heart of government, Ed and George explore the lessons from previous mid-term leadership transitions, the mistakes made by recent Prime Ministers, and the personnel, policy and economic decisions that could define Burnham’s first 100 days.

They then turn to the economic philosophy Burnham says could transform Britain: Manchesterism. What exactly is it? Is it a genuinely new model for growth, or simply a new label for old ideas? And could the policies that helped drive Manchester’s success work across the entire UK?

Finally, with the 2026 World Cup kicking off in the United States, Canada and Mexico, Ed and George explore the relationship between football and politics. From nationalism and international conflict to Donald Trump’s role as co-host and the wider geopolitical tensions surrounding the tournament, they ask whether this could be the most politically significant World Cup in modern history.

#PoliticalCurrency #EdBalls #GeorgeOsborne #AndyBurnham #Manchesterism #HealeyResignation

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On the Political Currency podcast, 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. New episodes available every Thursday. Our bonus EMQs - questions episode - drops on Mondays. Find Political Currency wherever you get your podcasts.