Recorded live at the Centre for Progressive Policy’s Inclusive Growth Conference on 28th November, this special episode The Power Test looks at where we are six months into the new Labour government and what it needs to do to deliver its promise of a decade of national renewal. Following the Budget, the reelection of Donald Trump in the US, farmer protests, and a rumoured government ‘relaunch’, Sam Freedman and Ayesha Hazarika , together with Chief Executive of the New Economics Foundation Dr Da...
Dec 03, 2024•35 min
Live from Labour Party conference, The Power Test returns to look at the Labour's first months in power. Ayesha Hazarika and Sam Freedman are joined by Georgia Gould , Labour MP and Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Office, Helen MacNamara , former Deputy Cabinet Secretary, and Marc Stears , director of the UCL Policy Lab , who supported this special episode, to discuss how Labour can reform and revive public services when the coffers are *cough* running low. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com...
Sep 27, 2024•54 min
With Labour now firmly in the driver’s seat of government, Sam Freedman and Ayesha Hazarika are joined by Power Test co-founder and former Chief Executive of the Centre for Progressive Policy, Charlotte Aldritt , and Ryan Wain , the Executive Director of Politics at the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, to look at where Britain goes next. How can Labour get Britain's creaky systems moving in the right direction, and put together a positive, proactive plan for power? From AI in the civil se...
Jul 12, 2024•47 min•Season 3Ep. 17
July 4th, 2024: the date that Labour returned to power. After 14 years in the political wilderness, Keir Starmer has led the party to a landslide victory. With the keys to No.10 Downing Street in his hands – and a crack team of ministers assembled – it's time to look back on how Labour has changed under the Starmer premiership, and ahead to how it, in turn, could change Britain. Ayesha Hazarika – fresh from a marathon broadcasting stint – and Sam Freedman – fresh from a marathon Excel stint – ga...
Jul 06, 2024•33 min•Season 3Ep. 16
Just before we head hurtling into election week, Sam Freedman and Ayesha Hazarika are on hand to take you through the reality of Labour’s pledge on energy - together with think tank Third Way’s Josh Freed who leads its Climate and Energy work and Brett Christophers, author of The Price is Wrong: Why Capitalism Won't Save the Planet. Labour has made reforming a troubled energy market one of its six key pledges, with the creation of a Great British Energy company at the heart of that. But will thi...
Jun 28, 2024•46 min•Season 3Ep. 15
As the issue drives Nigel Farage’s return and the Conservatives seek to sharpen attacks on Labour in a last ditch attempt to breakthrough in the campaign, this week Ayesha Hazarika and Sam Freedman look into Labour’s pledge on immigration. Ayesha and Sam probe further into Labour’s policies on immigration with former Home Office adviser Matt Cavanagh and LSE economics professor, and former Chair of the Migration Advisory Committee, Alan Manning. For more visit THEPOWERTEST.CO.UK Hosted on Acast....
Jun 21, 2024•47 min•Season 3Ep. 14
On this special manifesto episode of The Power Test , Ayesha Hazarika and Sam Freedman are joined by two special guests: Nick Pearce , one of the authors of Labour's 2010 manifesto, and Claire Ainsley , who was Keir Starmer's policy guru from 2020 to 2022. Together, this quartet dissect and discuss the Labour party's 2024 manifesto (titled, simply, 'Change'). Does it live up to that name? What are the big policy areas it covers, from housing to the NHS? And are there any notable omissions from t...
Jun 14, 2024•50 min•Season 3Ep. 13
The academic who inspired Blair’s “respect agenda" on tackling crime and anti-social behaviour urges Labour to ensure that there is effective investment in community support alongside law and policing. Talking to Ayesha Hazarika and Sam Freedman , Professor Richard Sennett , Professor of Sociology at the London School of Economics, says he recognises the similarities between the approaches taken by Keir Starmer and Blair on crime and anti-social behaviour but fears that the economic circumstance...
Jun 07, 2024•39 min•Season 3Ep. 12
Sam Freedman and Ayesha Hazarika sit down with the Chief Executives of the The King's Fund and NHS Confederation, Sarah Woolnough and Matthew Taylor , to discuss Labour's health pledge on waiting lists and what lies ahead. This week as the general election campaign hits full swing, and The Power Test is focused once again on one of the top issues for the voting public: The NHS. To find out more visit ThePowerTest.co.uk and become a Power Member so that you can access episodes early and ad-free. ...
May 31, 2024•47 min•Season 3Ep. 11
Schools expert, and Teacher Tapp co-founder, Laura McInerney , joins Sam Freedman and Ayesha Hazarika to speak about Labour’s commitment to recruit extra teachers by removing the VAT exemption on private schools - as well as the party’s other plans on education. With election fever setting in, The Power Test is not being knocked off course. With just six weeks until a new government will be in place, Sam and Ayesha look in detail about what Labour is offering and whether its plan adds up. Joined...
May 24, 2024•43 min•Season 3Ep. 10
With Labour under pressure from trade unions to remain committed to its 'New Deal for Working People', this week Ayesha Hazarika and Sam Freedman look at the party's relationship with the unions and the future ahead. They're joined by the General Secretary of the Prospect trade union, Mike Clancy , to look at Labour’s relationship with the union movement and how any future government can build a productive relationship to reshape the economy and support its growth mission. They also look at Nata...
May 17, 2024•41 min•Season 3Ep. 9
In the aftermath of last week's local elections, Sam Freedman and Ayesha Hazarika, together with author and Political Science Professor Rob Ford, look at what the results might mean for a future Labour government on this week's episode of The Power Test podcast. Under the surface of a very good set of elections for the party, and another very bad few days for the Tories, Ford, who was part of the BBC's elections analysis team, suggests however there are a few trends that may give an early warnin...
May 10, 2024•40 min•Season 3Ep. 8
In a week of drama in Scottish politics, Ayesha Hazarika and Sam Freedman are joined for this week’s episode of The Power Test by former Labour leader in Scotland, Kezia Dugdale. They discuss where Scottish politics goes next following the shock resignation of Humza Yousaf, whether the SNP's attack lines on independence have been blunted, and whether Anas Sarwar, the current leader of Scottish Labour, can take advantage of an increasingly rosy electoral picture. For more, please visit ThePowerTe...
May 03, 2024•38 min•Season 3Ep. 7
This week, Ayesha Hazarika and Sam Freedman are joined by none other than Sam’s dad, Sir Lawrence Freedman , to discuss future foreign and defence policy under a Labour Government. How will Labour confront the range of security threats that the UK faces across the world? Sir Lawrence Freedman, renowned academic, historian and author on foreign policy and international relations, reflects on the grave challenges a Starmer Government will face in a dangerous world. From the 'Special Relationship' ...
Apr 26, 2024•35 min•Season 3Ep. 6
Is Labour capable of reversing the curse facing centre-left governments around the world? Josh Simons, Director of the highly influential think tank Labour Together says the party must be ready to confront the challenge of thinking about how it can govern and win a second term. Josh joins Ayesha Hazarika and Sam Freedman to speak about how Labour is preparing for government and whether the party really has a plan to win the decade in power it wants and needs. Visit THEPOWERTEST.CO.UK to find out...
Apr 19, 2024•38 min•Season 3Ep. 5
On this week's episode of The Power Test , we're looking at all things local elections - including bins! - New Statesman Britain Editor Anoosh Chakelian joins Sam and Ayesha on the pod and discussed how these will have an impact on Labour and whether it can deliver real change in government. Episode notes: The Tories are trying to make headway by putting the blame on Labour-run councils themselves, but while voters seem to be seeing through the attacks, the question remains as to whether Labour ...
Apr 12, 2024•34 min•Season 3Ep. 4
Following last week's episode with Ed Balls, former Treasury boss Nick Macpherson joins Sam and Ayesha to interrogate the economic environment facing the next government. We’re hearing a lot from Labour about economic security, fighting off the party’s reputation for ‘spendonomics’, but is the party being too far too cautious and harming its plans for growth? If you've enjoyed this episode of The Power Test, why not become a Power Member on Substack to get the show ad-free and early? Subscribe h...
Apr 05, 2024•33 min•Season 3Ep. 3
As Labour announces its plans to reclaim 'Levelling Up', Sam Freedman and Ayesha Hazarika are joined by Ed Balls to discuss the dual challenges of tackling economic and regional inequality and going for growth Boris Johnson’s claim to end the North-South divide has been a spectacular disaster in terms of going from a box office slogan to something of any substance at all. Councils across the UK are on the brink of collapse and bankruptcy and economic equality across the country has never been mo...
Mar 29, 2024•41 min•Season 3Ep. 2
In this first episode of 2024, the duo discuss the news that Ayesha will soon become Baroness Hazarika of Coatbridge in the County of Lanarkshire and the role of the House of Lords in legislating before focusing on the current political landscape and the challenges and opportunities ahead for Labour as the party prepares for its return to government. Notes: Sam Freedman and Ayesha Hazarika return to the airwaves as The Power Test - the weekly political podcast with a purpose exploring how Labour...
Mar 22, 2024•31 min•Season 3Ep. 1
Keir Starmer's former chief of staff Sam White and The Guardian's Political Editor Pippa Crerar are two figures who have arguably played as big a role as any in turning around Labour's electoral chances. Pippa broke the Partygate story that engulfed the Tory party for many months, while Sam was working behind the scenes to make Labour look like a government in waiting. Sam and Pippa join us in the studio to talk about partygate, if there's a path back for the Conservatives, Labour's strategy, an...
Dec 15, 2023•53 min•Season 2Ep. 10
Labour's former Foreign Secretary Jack Straw joins Sam and Ayesha to talk about the UK's standing in the world and how it could be restored under a Starmer premiership. What influence does the UK still have on the world stage? Is there such a thing as an ethical foreign policy? How might Labour work with populist leaders whilst keeping the party base happy? What would a second Trump term mean for the world? Olivia O'Sullivan of foreign policy think tank Chatham House, and Matthew McGregor, CEO o...
Dec 08, 2023•56 min•Season 2Ep. 9
Sam Freedman quizzes Ed Miliband live on stage at London's Inclusive Growth Conference in partnership with the Centre For Progressive Policy. The former Labour leader talks about how Labour's green agenda can deliver growth that benefits all parts of the country. Giles Wilkes, the former aide to Theresa May and Vince Cable, and Charlotte Alldritt, CEO of the CPP, join Sam for analysis. The Power Test is a political podcast where each week Sam Freedman and Ayesha Hazarika bring the biggest and mo...
Dec 01, 2023•46 min•Season 2Ep. 8
This week Sam and Ayesha explore how a Labour might operate the machinery of government following a successful election. With expert insight from Dr. Hannah Wright, CEO of the Institute for Government, and former Political Secretary to Tony Blair, Baroness Sally Morgan. The Power Test is a political podcast where each week Sam Freedman and Ayesha Hazarika bring the biggest and most difficult political issues into focus and put fresh ideas to the test to see if they are capable of winning popular...
Nov 24, 2023•58 min•Season 2Ep. 7
Sam and Ayesha discuss the fall of Suella Braverman, the return of David Cameron, and much more besides whilst looking ahead to next week's Autumn statement. Joined by Jonathan Portes, the chief economist at the Cabinet Office under Gordon Brown, and Gemma Tetlow, the chief economist at the Institute for Government, they assess wether a potential Labour government could, would, and should work to actively shape the economy. The Power Test is a political podcast where each week Sam Freedman and A...
Nov 17, 2023•55 min•Season 2Ep. 6
Sam and Ayesha come to you live from the inaugural Festival of Higher Education at London's Senate House, joined by former Labour minister and president of University of the Arts London James Purnell, CEO of Universities UK Vivienne Stern, and founder of Wonkhe Mark Leach. They discuss the problems with funding Universities face, the reliance on income from foreign students, the question of grade inflation, and the claim that the UK has too many students taking low value degrees. What should a f...
Nov 10, 2023•47 min•Season 2Ep. 5
In the 1990s Tim Allan worked alongside Alistair Campbell on Tony Blair's media strategy. At the same time, Sarah Sands was an editor at the Daily Telegraph. In this episode, Tim and Sarah reflect on that period, and discuss how the relationship between politicians and the media has since changed. The Power Test is a political podcast where each week Sam Freedman and Ayesha Hazarika bring the biggest and most difficult political issues into focus and put fresh ideas to the test to see if they ar...
Nov 03, 2023•55 min•Season 2Ep. 4
Polling expert and former president of YouGov Peter Kellner breaks down the latest by-election results and Neal Lawson, the chair of pressure group Compass, makes the case for a progressive alliance. The Power Test is a political podcast where each week Sam Freedman and Ayesha Hazarika bring the biggest and most difficult political issues into focus and put fresh ideas to the test to see if they are capable of winning popular support and delivering real change in government. Follow @ThePowerTest...
Oct 27, 2023•57 min•Season 2Ep. 3
Former environmental aide to US President Bill Clinton, Paul Bledsoe, the Telegraph’s environmental editor Emma Gatten, and the economist and former treasury advisor to Rishi Sunak, Tim Leunig, join Sam and Ayesha to discuss the economics and politics of achieving net zero by 2050. The Power Test is a political podcast where each week Sam Freedman and Ayesha Hazarika bring the biggest and most difficult political issues into focus and put fresh ideas to the test to see if they are capable of win...
Oct 20, 2023•53 min•Season 2Ep. 2
The Power Test is back for a new series with hosts Ayesha Hazarika and Sam Freedman. In this first episode, they are joined by Anne McElvoy, Marc Stears and John McTernan live from the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool to ask how a future Labour administration will govern and change Britain for the better - and whether it can deliver radical change in tough times. The Power Test is a political podcast where, with the help of invited guests, each week Sam Freedman and Ayesha Hazarika bring the...
Oct 13, 2023•53 min•Season 2Ep. 1
Former Labour Home Secretary David Blunkett, host of Rock N Roll Politics Steve Richards, and The Times journalist Rachel Sylvester are live from The Future of Britain conference where Tony Blair and Keir Starmer share a stage for the first time. After hearing his keynote speech, our guests assess wether Keir is ready to win and govern successfully. The Power Test is a political podcast that asks if it really is all over for the Tories, and what Labour should do to win and change Britain for the...
Jul 21, 2023•51 min•Ep. 10
