No Sacred Cows

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 pla...

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 p...

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...

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 Lab...

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...

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 r...

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...

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...

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 ar...

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...

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...

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...

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 T...

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 polit...

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...

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...

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 bigg...

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 a...

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 dif...

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...

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...

Ayesha and Sam are joined by Liverpool regional city mayor Steve Rotherham, ex-Nicola Sturgeon aide Liz Lloyd, and Camden council leader Georgia Gould to discuss future approaches to devolution. After so long in opposition, are Labour really ready to give away power? 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...

Do the culture wars present a challenge to Labour's electoral hopes? Ayesha & Sam are joined by The Atlantic's Helen Lewis, the director of British Future Sunder Katwala, and founder of the Women's Equality Party Catherine Mayer to discuss how Labour should navigate and lead on divisive issues like trans rights, race, and patriotism. The Power Test is a political podcast that asks if it really...

The former Conservative Justice Secretary David Gauke, Labour's Police & Crime Commissioner for Northumbria Kim McGuinness, and former Metropolitan Police superintendent Dr Leroy Logan join Sam and Ayesha to try to work out how to revive our struggling justice system. The UK has some of the most crowded prisons in Europe, a chronic backlog of criminal cases, and police forces marred by scandal...

The NHS is in crisis. Staff continue to strike while a record 7.4 million of us await treatment. The pressure is only set to increase as our population grows and ages. Ayesha and Sam are joined by shadow health minister Liz Kendall, the co-author of the 2019 Conservative manifesto Rachel Wolf, and NHS commentator Roy Lilley to discuss future reform. The Power Test is a political podcast that asks...