So George Osborne has a new podcast. What do the victims of his austerity policies get? | Aditya Chakrabortty

Entertainment launders reputations. No wonder washed-up politicians are so keen to invest in this great speech bubble

Few things became Alan Clark less than retirement. My mind races," the Thatcher-era Tory junior minister raged into his diaries. I am hungry for news and gossip, resentful at John Major ... how could they? Although, of course, the cruelty of politics is its attraction."

If only he'd hung on for the arrival of podcasts. Today, Clark would be a cert to host his own politics one, sweeping the crumbs from Westminster tablecloths into a regular 50 minutes of audio content: reminiscence, gossip and crisp, chilled cruelty - Who's down? Who's out? - all generously sponsored by a manufacturer of probiotic yoghurt.

Aditya Chakrabortty is a Guardian columnist