Women With Balls: Miatta Fahnbulleh
Best of the Spectator
The Spectator
4.4 • 785 Ratings
🗓️ 17 March 2025
⏱️ 36 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Born in Liberia, her family fled west Africa as the region descended into civil war, eventually settling in north London when she was just 7 years old. Trained as an economist, having studied at Oxford and the LSE, she went on to work in the civil service and at various think-tanks. After serving as the CEO for the New Economics Foundation, she became a senior economic adviser for Labour working with Ed Miliband during his time as leader of the Labour Party. Ed is now her boss again – at the department for energy.
On the podcast, Miatta talks to Katy Balls about how the value of public service was instilled early in her life, how politics weighs heavier in west Africa than in the UK, and what it’s like to be considered a rising star in British politics. She also talks about the tough decisions this Labour government has had to make, from international aid to energy. She says that while the politics around energy are tough, the topic is intrinsically linked to Labour’s success – bills must come down before the next general election.
Produced by Patrick Gibbons.
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | This episode of Women with Balls is sponsored by Alliance Witten Investment Trust. From the OPEC |
| 0:06.0 | oil crisis of the 1970s, the financial crash in 2008, to the COVID epidemic and Liz Truss's |
| 0:13.1 | doomed premiership. There has been no shortage of economic crises over the last 58 years. And yet, |
| 0:19.6 | throughout that time, every single year, without fail, |
| 0:22.8 | we've paid out an increased dividend to our shareholders. In fact, Alliance Witten's history |
| 0:28.3 | dates all the way back to 1888. And today, we manage around £5 billion in assets. |
| 0:35.5 | If you're looking for a less stressful way to invest in stocks and shares, |
| 0:39.2 | learn more about Alliance Witten and find your comfort zone. |
| 0:46.1 | Hello and welcome to Women with Balls, where I Katie Balls speak today's trailblazers. |
| 0:50.9 | While running for Parliament last year, my guest was named as one of the 50 most influential people in progressive politics. |
| 0:57.2 | Born in Liberia, her family moved to the UK in the 1980s as the region descended into civil war, |
| 1:02.8 | and when she was just seven years old, she grew up in North West London and later studied at Oxford |
| 1:07.5 | as well as completing an economics PhD at the LSE. |
| 1:11.3 | Following stints in the civil service and at various think tanks, |
| 1:14.0 | she served as CEO for the New Economics Foundation and later as a senior economic advisor to Labour. |
| 1:19.9 | Elected as MP for Peckham at the 2024 general election, |
| 1:23.5 | she has served as the junior minister in the energy department since. |
| 1:26.9 | My guest today is Miata Fambula. |
| 1:35.0 | Thanks very much for coming on the podcast today. |
| 1:36.6 | Thanks for having me. |
| 1:37.9 | Is this your first time at The Spectator? |
| 1:39.5 | It is. |
... |
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