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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Comment
Catherine Bennett

If only Ed had the balls to cut the podcast bantz and take George Osborne to task

George Osborne and Ed Balls recording a pilot episode of their  podcast. Political Currency
Double act: George Osborne and Ed Balls recording a pilot episode of their podcast. Political Currency Photograph: Rob Nicholson/Rob Nicholson/Persephonica

Even for non-attendees, George Osborne’s July wedding lingers in the memory. First, because of the bizarre, orange confetti protest. Second, because of the number of journalists who were guests.

Nick Robinson from Today. Emily Maitlis and Jon Sopel, formerly of the BBC, now presenting the News Agents podcast. Sky’s former political editor, Adam Boulton. Ed Balls, the former Labour minister, now a daytime TV presenter. Times Radio’s Mariella Frostrup. Almost enough to show Osborne in a decent light. Do such guests hint at personal qualities that might, if they’d been visible, make up for his reputation as one of Britain’s worst ever chancellors? Perhaps an endearing side to Osborne finally helps account for his chairmanship, as an arts-axer, of the British Museum, for his editorship, as a non-journalist, of a newspaper, and now, for the warm interest in his new podcasting career.

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